By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

An investigation has been launched by the Police after a three-wheel driver of an app-based taxi service had been threatened by a group of thugs in a locality in Galle for transporting tourists.  

The Tourist Police said the incident was reported yesterday following a video of the incident going viral on Social Media.  

“However, we did not receive any formal Police complaint regarding the incident. But the Tourist Police have decided to launch an investigation as foreigners are involved,” the Tourist Police Division said.  

The video showed three men stopping the three-wheeler and threatening the taxi driver not to pick up tourists from their area. It also shows the men abusing the taxi driver verbally with one of them peering into the three-wheeler and warning the driver not to take anyone from their neighbourhood ever again.  

Several people commenting on the video were of the opinion that these people should be severely dealt with and that the three-wheel mafia should not be allowed to harass tourists visiting Sri Lanka.  

“Tourists should be free to book a taxi. If this continues and you don’t talk, then you cannot promote tourism,” one comment said.