Touts at Pettah bus stand redirecting tourists to private vans

Asked about 2 months agoSeen by 3,356 travellers25 found this helpful
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Emma L.6235 rep2
asked about 2 months ago

We went to Pettah Central bus stand to catch the Kandy bus. A man told us the government buses were on strike and took us to a cramped private van. Scam.

25
asked about 2 months ago
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Emma L.6235 rep2

4 Answers from travellers

Accepted Answer

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.

41
answered about 2 months ago
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Bhante S.15460 rep2

We fell for this in Kandy. Paid 3000 rupees and sat in a boiling hot van for 90 minutes before it left.

39
answered about 2 months ago
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Noah D.6690 rep2

Always ask the driver sitting physically inside the bus. Never ask the guys lingering outside the terminal doors.

25
answered about 2 months ago
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Dr. Nimal.6540 rep1

Infuriating. We lost half our day waiting in that van.

5
answered about 2 months ago
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Emma L.6235 rep2

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