METER TAXI –DOCTORS STORY

The pioneer inventor of the three wheeler meter taxi is a Consultant Dental surgeon:

The demanding of charges for three wheeler hires which are at all times variable and not a constant amount is a common factor to many three wheeler travellers. Now fixing of meters to three wheelers has been made compulsory although many have failed to fix them yet. Most people who travel in  three wheelers now prefer to hire a three wheeler fixed with a meter. Yet both in Colombo and in outstations there are enough and more three wheelers which ply devoid of meters, purely for their advantage. These three wheeler drivers charge a arbitrary figures as their hire charges.
Most meters fixed to the three wheelers are alike as these gadgets used to manufacture meters are very similar. Would you believe that these meters are locally manufactured? Would you also believe that these meters have been invented and manufactured by a Consultant Dental Surgeon? He is Dr Aruna Ratnasuriya. How did he successfully manufacture such a meter completely different to his profession? It is worth finding out details from him. This information he had revealed to the tabloid edition of today’s ‘Rasaduna’ newspaper. Some of the questions to which he had given answers are appended below:
What was your age when you commenced this exercise?
“I studied at Royal College, Colombo. During the period I was in grade 6,  I joined the Radio Club at the College. Simultaneously I studied ‘Electronics’ under Scientific Engineer T.D.A Wijenaike. Deep learning of this subject made me to invent many items useful to the consumer. I also learnt ‘microscopic’ science from Master Ruwan Jayanetty. Afterwards it was a case of experimenting on many fields. In this aspect my parents and teachers rendered to me their fullest co-operation.
What was the product you invented most recently?
“During the year 1987/1988 when I was schooling and experimenting. I was able to invent a thermometer. In 1998 I invented a mobile billing machine. I also invented several unique features to mobile phones. After which for my dental profession by using freely available local raw materials I invented an instrument to fill decayed teeth called “Blue light’. My most popular and advanced invention was inventing the meters for three wheelers.”
Why did you select a career as a dental surgeory instead of something connected to ‘electronic science?’
“Although many people wish to travel very quickly most of them fear to travel hiring three wheelers as they are demanded to pay exorbitant charges for hires. When I went to India a few years back I saw metres fixed to the three wheelers there. In India people hesitate and do not prefer to travel in metered three wheelers. The reason is that those three wheelers are fixed with Ax type meters. Those without are cheaper to travel in. When I returned to Sri Lanka, I thought fixing meters to three wheelers would be beneficial to the three wheeler travellers. Thinking of that concept I wanted to invent meters for three wheelers here.”.
Have your numerous inventions subjected to receiving awards?
“For my invention of inventing dental equipment I was awarded the President’s award. For inventing the three wheeler meter I won an award given by the Moratuwa campus. Many of my other inventions had been hailed and acclaimed by many. Hence I became more motivated in producing new inventions.”
Do you believe that your three wheeler meter is dead accurate?
“Yes. For all metered three wheelers for the first kilometre it is a fixed charge. It does not vary at all. The charges of non metered three wheelers vary from one another. There should be static similarity in the rates. Hence for  my three wheeler meter invented all who travel are meted out with justice in respect of payments they make”.
News paper article by Gamini Susantha