Touts at Pettah bus stand redirecting tourists to private vans
4 Answers from travellers
100% a scam. Unless it is on the national news, the CTB government buses are almost never fully on strike. These touts wear fake lanyards to look official. They lie so they can herd tourists into their overpriced private minivans, which will not depart until every single seat is sold (often making you wait 2 hours). Walk past them directly to the big red buses.
We fell for this in Kandy. Paid 3000 rupees and sat in a boiling hot van for 90 minutes before it left.
Always ask the driver sitting physically inside the bus. Never ask the guys lingering outside the terminal doors.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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