Tuk-tuk wisdom

When traveling on the roads of Sri Lanka, it’s pretty hard to miss the swarms of tuk-tuks (3 wheel taxis) swerving through the streets. Whilst most might find their antics on the road quite alarming, they’re often used as a medium of spreading wisdom (or entertainment) to the masses. Every tuk-tuk driver realises that his tuk-tuk is his source of income. As such, they resort to using various methods of ensuring their tuk stands out from the rest. A tuk-tuk is a blank canvas! Some are decorated with colourful tassels and ornaments, some hang pictures of chubby naked babies on the insides, whilst others slap on a catchy quote.

The next time you are driving through the capital city of Colombo, watch out for these tuk tuks, especially the taxis with ingenious quotes on them! Some are thought-provoking, some salacious, others calculatedly witty, but a number are quite unintentionally funny, with the message being lost in translation.



“Why can’t we love another?”



Here are a few quotes I have collected over the years;

“If you’re cute you can call me baby”

“Don’t break my heart, king of my place”

“I am not driving fast but flying slowly”

“Why attempt to shun your own shadow?”

“Nothing to change my life for you”

“If you can read this, you are losing”

“No god no peace, know god, know peace”

“The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship”

“Anytime, anybody, anyway”

“You’re the gift got for me”

“Che Guevara want you to rebel”

“Last warning my friend”

“Any job is better than no job”

Love them or hate them, tuk-tuks are undoubtedly a part of Colombo’s fabric! Our island would be rather dull without these colourful taxis whizzing around, don’t you agree?