The Cabinet of Ministers has reportedly decided to revoke the Gazette Notification that imposed an age limit of 35 years on those who wanted to obtain a passenger three-wheeler driver license.
The Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry had issued the gazette notification permitting only those above 35 years of age to be eligible to apply for a driving license for three-wheelers carrying passengers considering the increasing number of fatal road accidents involving three wheelers.
However, the Cabinet of Ministers has reportedly insisted that there should not be a bar on any age group over 18 to obtain a license.
Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said expressing his views on the new rules regarding licenses to drive three-wheelers, said he is against the 35 years of age limit to obtain a passenger three wheeler driver’s license.
The Minister said he made a request to reduce the age limit to 25 years. “I believe everyone should have the freedom to engage in a job of their choice. I will speak against this restriction at this week’s cabinet meeting,” he said Monday.
It has been revealed that over half a million three-wheeler drivers in the country are under 35 years of age and about 1.2 million people are depending on their income.