An Inspiring Tale of Community and Industry
U K Karunanayake, fondly referred to as Rathu Aiya (Red Brother) by his family and friends, is a smiling and affable man. His daily routine, to him, is all about Galle – providing centuries of history complemented by decades of experience to first time visitors and regular travelers. Through the simple and now iconic tuk-tuk or trishaw, Karunanayake conveys a great knowledge of the city – an affordable and memorable experience.
Serving as the President of the Jetwing Lighthouse Tuk Tuk Line, Karunanayake has been with the Association since 1996, even before the construction of Jetwing Lighthouse. Operating as a loose organization and establishing a ‘three-wheeler park’, and made up of residents of the area, the entry of the hotel created doubt and fear initially. In Karunanayake’s words, “When this started we were initially reluctant. It was a new trade and we were not sure how to tackle it in the best way possible. We were apprentices, but now thanks to the efforts of Jetwing we have become masters”.
Today, Karunanayake and his comrades enjoy a different relationship with Jetwing Lighthouse – one which has stood for over a decade. A unique feature of the programme is that the number of drivers (43) that joined over 10 years ago still remain and now operate a variety of vehicles – from trishaws, cars and vans. Established to eliminate any feelings of antagonism between the hotel industry and the drivers, the Tuk Tuk Project sought to combine both a service (providing transport and tours to guests) as well as contribute (involving youth from the area, and to uplift standards of living).
A comprehensive training programme was implemented, focusing on the areas of language, communication, history of Galle and now is completely managed by the drivers themselves – through a well organized schedule and internal discipline.
“There has definitely been an improvement, in our lives and in the area thanks to this initiative. On our part, we are more than happy to provide the best service possible to the guests, because it brings in a lot of satisfaction, especially when travelling by trishaw”, Karunanayake adds. The Tuk Tuk Project was a PATA Gold Award winner in 2005, under the Education & Training category, and is an initiative under the Jetwing Eternal Earth Programme – the company’s overarching philosophy of sustainable and responsible practice. Throughout four decades, the focus on community development and uplifting has remained strong; ensuring that the benefits of tourism and travel are enjoyed by all stakeholders at all locations a Jetwing property is present in.
[Via Daily News]
