For many wheelchair users, elderly passengers and people with limited mobility, something as routine as travelling to a hospital appointment, airport or family gathering can become a difficult experience before the journey even begins.
Colombo-based TheTaxi (The Taxi Company (Pvt) Ltd) is seeking to make that journey easier with the introduction of a dedicated wheelchair accessible taxi service, allowing passengers to travel while remaining safely seated in their wheelchairs rather than being lifted into and out of conventional vehicles.
The initiative marks an important step towards more accessible and inclusive transport in Sri Lanka, particularly for passengers who may otherwise depend heavily on family members or carers whenever they need to travel.
Ordinary vehicles are often not designed around the needs of wheelchair users. Moving a passenger from a wheelchair into a car can be uncomfortable and, in some circumstances, unsafe for both the passenger and the person assisting them. TheTaxi’s accessible vehicles are designed to address that problem by enabling wheelchair users to board more easily, remain securely seated and travel without being transferred from their chairs.
The service is intended not only for wheelchair users, but also for elderly passengers, people with disabilities and others with limited mobility, as well as families and carers seeking a more practical way to travel.
Trained chauffeurs provide assistance throughout the journey, with the service designed to give passengers greater independence, comfort and dignity.
“A wheelchair should never decide where a person can go,” TheTaxi Chief Executive Officer Zufer Ahamed said, adding that the company wanted to provide transport for those who need it most while preserving their dignity.
The accessible taxi service can be used for hospital and medical appointments, airport transfers, hotel transfers, city journeys, day trips and longer distance travel, including destinations such as Kandy, Galle and Ella.
TheTaxi’s roots date back to 2011, when the business began as Casons Taxi with a single compact car and a small team. It later expanded its fleet and transport services before being rebranded as TheTaxi in January 2026.
Today, the company provides airport transfers, city and outstation transport, tours, corporate and staff transport, as well as van and bus hire, with reservations and dispatch services operating around the clock.
Beyond adding another vehicle category to its fleet, the wheelchair-accessible service carries a wider social message: mobility should not depend on whether someone can physically step into an ordinary car.
As Sri Lanka continues to discuss accessibility across public spaces, tourism, healthcare and transport, initiatives of this nature can help make everyday movement more inclusive for people whose mobility needs are often overlooked.
For families, the benefit is equally practical. A hospital visit, airport journey or family outing can become less stressful when the passenger can travel in their own wheelchair without repeatedly being lifted or transferred.
Bookings are available 24 hours a day, with the company requesting reservations at least four hours in advance. Customers can contact 077 255 5999 or visit www.thetaxi.lk for further information.
For TheTaxi, the new service represents more than a transport solution. It is a positive move towards giving wheelchair users, elderly passengers and people with disabilities something most travellers take for granted — the freedom to go where they need to go with greater comfort, independence and dignity.
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