You need tuk-tuk?
Hi, I’m Emilda from Colombo City.
Tuk-tuk female driver, 32 years old and I’m driving tuk-tuks equal to men.
Yes, I feel freedom.
This job is freedom for me because when I want to take a rest I can rest at home.
When I want more money, I can do busy driving
Women can do anything!
I look on every places.
And boys!
Some people say good comments, very appreciate for me.
You are one of the lady tuk-tuk drivers.
But some persons said why?
You driving the tuk-tuk?
You are a lady, you need to go home and cook.”
Hi good morning this is my home and this is my little friend he's her mother.
She's best for me every every every second.
I like dogs.
She is my second one.
The first one already passed away.
Already left us.I have tattoos here.
It’s the same
So I like pets.
I have big dreams.
Buying one own home, with a beautiful garden.
With some dogs.
Actually, I wake up early morning.
At 5.30.
Weekly full days work.
I mean 8 to 5 o’clock working time.
My birth place is in Sri Lankan north place.
Northside.
Top – you know in Jaffna.
My dressing style: they didn’t like it.
My neighbors didn’t like it.
I can’t go outside.
If I go to the street I’m looking different.
All because of the culture.
Colombo is the biggest city.
I like to live a freedom life, you know?
I need a life to drive tuk-tuks.
I can drive here.
But if I go to Jaffna everyone is looking at my face.
Actually, tuktukrental.com is my life.
So I’m joining this company for almost 3 years, We rent tuk-tuks for tourists.
They enjoy.
This is new for foreigners.
They don’t have tuk-tuks in their country.
So they come to Sri Lanka and book the tuk-tuks and get the Sri Lankan license.
After that, we give lessons for the customer on how to drive tuk-tuks on the road, road
rules, and everything...
The decision we took to hire a woman is because we saw the gap.
Women in Sri Lanka are not really taken for jobs as driving instructors or to drive a
tuk-tuk in particular.
So we wanted to change this perspective.
For a long period of time in Sri Lanka or in many Asian countries, the norm is where
the man goes out to work and the woman stays behind.
Looks after kids, cook at home.
But now things have changed drastically.
And also this is because of the pandemic I should say because women have to step in.
On the first day, I really didn’t have any experience.
So the first day I checked the engine oil and I didn’t know how to check it.
If it’s good oil or bad oil or to need to refill also.
So I asked my friend.
He explained to me like this you need to the engine's oil and check it.
Now it’s practice.
Normal
After I got my license I tried to drive tuk-tuks
but it’s failed.
So I was really afraid.
I thought I cannot drive a tuk-tuk and will make many accidents or something.
Thank god.
This is the best food for tuk-tuk drivers because we have no time to eat.
So on the street, street food we buy to eat and continue the job.
That it chicken samosa
Most of the ladies are very afraid to drive on the street, not only tuk-tuk.
Bike also.
But if they have confidence and have the trust, they can drive everything
But if they have confidence and have trust, they can drive everything.
Try, try, try, and try.
One day you can fly.
I make my life different.
Because I like this.
An LGBT community relationship is not legal.
But in Sri Lanka, there are a lot of couples.
If you don’t like leave it!
But don’t hurt and force their life.
And if you can help them, you must help them.
Because they need to live for their happy life.
I never tried to hurt anyone, but they hurt me.
I listened, but I never mind about this.
I feel pain but I never say anything about them.
LGBT community?
I change everyone’s mind to accept all loves.
This is my wish.