The three wheeler taxi service in Kandy was more of a mafia than a public service, charging unfair and exorbitant fares from the public, Deputy Mayor of Kandy K. L. Suminda Wickramasinghe said at the monthly meeting of the Kandy Municipal Council.

He said members of the public had made several complaints to him about the high fares charged by three wheeler taxi drivers, while charges to travel the same distance varied from driver to driver.

Wickramasinghe said three wheeler taxi drivers should be directed to charge similar and reasonable fares with taxi meters fixed on the three wheelers operating in Kandy and urged the Mayor to get in touch with Minister of Transport to get taxi meters fixed to prevent exploitation of the public.