Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
You are the boss. It's great to get recommendations from a driver but don't be bullied.
Drivers are known to dissuade travellers from visiting temples and other sights where
there are no commissions.
Unless you speak absolutely no English or Sinhala, a guide in addition to the driver is un-
necessary.
Drivers make a fair part of their income from commissions. Most hotels and guesthouses
pay drivers a flat fee or a percentage, although others refuse to. This can lead to disputes
between you and the driver over where you're staying the night, as the driver will literally
wish to steer you to where the money is. Some hotels have appalling accommodation for
drivers; the smarter hotels and guesthouses know that keeping drivers happy is good for
their business, and provide decent food and lodgings.
Recommended drivers include the following (there are many more; the Lonely Planet
Thorn Tree forum is a good source of driver recommendations):
Milroy Fernando
( 077 727 2780;
milroy@ancientlanka.com
)
CAR
Dimuthu Priyadarshana
( 077 630 2070;
dimuthu81@hotmail.com
)
CAR
Nilam Sahabdeen
( 081-238 4981;
http://srilankatour.wordpress.com/
)
CAR
Self-Drive Hire
www.rentalcarsrilanka.com
;Colombo)
offers self-drive car hire. You'll find other local firms as
well as very small operations in tourist towns. You can usually get a car for about US$30
per day with 100km of included kilometres. But it is still uncommon to see visitors driving
themselves in Sri Lanka.
Road Conditions
You may see a number of accidents; driving requires constant attention to the road. Coun-
try roads are often narrow and potholed, with constant pedestrian, bicycle and animal traffic
to navigate. Note, however, that Sri Lanka's massive road-building program is improving
roads across the nation.
Punctures are a part of life here, so every village has a repair expert.
