Beyond the Wheel:

The Tuktuk as a Tool for Social Empowerment and Passive Income

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Miles away, nestled in the hill country village of Bidunuwewa, Bandarawela, Marie Wijesinghe’s journey showcases the tuktuk’s power as a tool for social security and family empowerment.

The rhythmic thrum of the three-wheeler, or tuktuk, is the undeniable soundtrack to life in Sri Lanka. It's the sound of morning commutes, market runs, and school trips. For decades, this humble vehicle has been the nation's workhorse, a symbol of mobility and livelihood. But a quiet revolution is underway on the roads of our island, transforming the tuktuk from a simple means of transport into a powerful engine of social empowerment and a source of remarkable passive income.

Following our first article in this series, The Humble Tuk-Tuk: Sri Lanka's Key to a $372 billion Travel Market, we now delve into the human stories behind this economic shift.

This is not a story about the Colombo Stock Market or the high-stakes real estate market, where passive income has traditionally been the preserve of the wealthy. Instead, this is a grassroots economic success story, where ordinary Sri Lankans are unlocking the potential of an asset they already own, creating stability and opportunity for their families in ways they never thought possible.

In the sun-drenched coastal town of Weligama, P.G. Nissanka has experienced this transformation firsthand. Like many tuktuk owners, his vehicle was his primary source of income. But he has since pivoted his strategy. “I rented out my three-wheeler to a company that re-rents their fleet to tourists, especially from the Western countries,” he explains. The result has been life-changing. “Today I earn about Rs. 60,000 per month without having to drive it or maintain it,” Nissanka says. This transition has turned his vehicle into a consistent, hassle-free source of passive income.