Drivers accept my Colombo-Ella Uber ride, then ask me to cancel. Why?

You are experiencing the "Commission War."

The "Why": Uber/PickMe charges drivers a high commission (20-25%). On a long trip like Colombo-Ella (6 hours), that is a huge chunk of their earnings. They want you to cancel so they can pocket the full fare without giving a cut to the app.

The Risk: If you cancel and go "offline," you lose the GPS tracking and safety features of the app. You also have no recourse if the car breaks down or he demands more money halfway.

The Solution:

Safety First: If you are a solo traveler, do not do it. Keep trying until a driver accepts the official ride.

Negotiation: If you are a group/couple and the driver seems nice, you can agree to his terms, but negotiate a lower price. Say, "I will pay cash, but since you save the commission, knock 3,000 LKR off the price."