Tuktuk drivers blocking public bus entrances in Colombo Pettah
6 Answers from travellers
This is 100% a classic Colombo scam. The CTB and private buses are almost never completely on strike without it being national news. The tuk-tuk mafia stands at the entrances to the Bastian Mawatha bus station and lies to tourists to herd them into overpriced minivans or extort high tuk-tuk fares. Ignore them completely, walk right past them into the terminal, and ask a bus conductor in uniform.
For anyone reading this, just take an Uber to the Makumbura Multimodal Center instead. Zero scammers there.
We pushed past them and found the bus waiting inside. Insane how aggressive they are.
They actually pointed to a random bus driving away and said "That was the last one today." Total lie.
If you feel unsafe, walk towards the police post located right near the main CTB entrance.
Keep a tight grip on your bags. Sometimes they grab your luggage to "help" carry it to their expensive vans.
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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