Vehicles

1. කාර් එක

   kār eka

   Car

   Usage

   English "car" plus the colloquial "eka". The written form is "mōṭar rathaya"

2. මෝටර් රථය

   mōṭar rathaya

   Motor vehicle (formal)

   Usage

   The written form built on "rathaya" (vehicle) — what you see on signs, insurance and rental contracts

3. ත්‍රීවීලර්

   thrīvīlar

   Three-wheeler

   Usage

   The backbone of getting around Sri Lanka. Locals say "three-wheeler" far more than "tuk-tuk". Take a metered one or use the PickMe app and skip the haggling

4. ටුක් ටුක්

   tuk tuk

   Tuk-tuk

   Usage

   The name used with visitors — locals call the same vehicle a "three-wheeler"

5. බස් එක

   bas eka

   Bus

   Usage

   Routes cover the whole island and fares are very low. Red buses are state-run (SLTB); the colourful ones are private, faster and driven harder

6. පෞද්ගලික බස්

   paudgalika bas

   Private bus

   Usage

   "Paudgalika" means private. More frequent and faster than the state buses, and famous for loud music and hard driving. Some long-distance services are air-conditioned

7. දුම්රිය

   dumriya

   Train

   Usage

   "Dum" (smoke) + "riya" (carriage). The hill line from Kandy to Ella and the coast line from Colombo to Galle are the famous ones — the windows open

8. ටැක්සි

   tæksi

   Taxi

   Usage

   Ride-hailing apps (PickMe, Uber) are widespread, and in the cities they beat flagging one down on price and certainty

9. වෑන් රථය

   vǣn rathaya

   Van

   Usage

   The standard visitor option — hired with a driver for several days. For a family or group touring the island it is the practical choice

10. කුලී රථය

    kulī rathaya

    Hire vehicle

    Usage

    "Kulī" (for hire) + "rathaya" (vehicle). To drive yourself you need a temporary Sri Lankan permit in addition to your own licence

11. යතුරුපැදිය

    yathurupædiya

    Motorbike

    Usage

    Renting needs a temporary permit. Handy in coastal towns, but the main roads are dangerous with the way the buses drive

12. බයිසිකලය

    bæisikalaya

    Bicycle

    Usage

    The way to see the ruins at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Ride early or late — the sun is fierce

13. ගුවන් යානය

    guvan yānaya

    Airplane

    Usage

    "Guvan" (air) + "yānaya" (craft). An airport is "guvanthoṭupoḷa"

14. බෝට්ටුව

    bōṭṭuva

    Boat

    Usage

    Used for river trips at Bentota, the Madu Ganga mangrove tour and whale watching

15. ඔරුව

    oruva

    Oruwa (outrigger canoe)

    Usage

    The traditional Sri Lankan fishing craft: a hollowed hull with an outrigger float. They line the beaches at Negombo and Mirissa — show it when asking for a ride

16. නෞකාව

    naukāva

    Ship

    Usage

    The written word for a large vessel — seen in signage at the ports of Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee

17. ගිලන් රථය

    gilan rathaya

    Ambulance

    Usage

    "Gilan" (sick) + "rathaya" (vehicle). The free nationwide ambulance number is 1990 (Suwa Seriya)

18. ලොරිය

    loriya

    Lorry / truck

    Usage

    From English "lorry" — use it when arranging a delivery

19. කරත්තය

    karaththaya

    Bullock cart

    Usage

    The ox-drawn cart. Still seen in farming villages, and offered as a village ride around Sigiriya

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