Motorcycles are a cost-effective means of transport, and widely used by the Saraceni as a family vehicle. Many Saraceni use it to get to work, take their children to school, and perform domestic chores on a daily basis. On open roads, the motorcycle is a breeze to operate, but in congested traffic the experience quickly turns challenging, because a motorcycle needs to keep moving to remain stable. The risky maneuvers we see some motorcyclists take seem fool-hardy for a person in a three-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle, but that is because we find it hard to empathize with a motorcyclist’s concerns.


A motorcycle is easy to ride when it is going at a high speed, however as mentioned earlier, it becomes highly unstable when going at slower speeds. The lesser the speed, the harder the balance, and if there is a passenger, it becomes an even bigger challenge. The speed at which normal traffic moves during rush hour, can make a motorcyclist’s ride very unpleasant, especially if they are tired after work, as they have to put extra effort into balance. If a motorcycle has to come to a complete stop, then the weight of the vehicle rests on the rider’s legs, and this can become quite painful when repeated many times. This is why motorcyclists try to keep moving, through traffic taking advantage of any gap between vehicles, so that they can maintain speed and motion.

Therefore, dear Saracen, if you are fortunate enough to own a four wheeled vehicle, where stopping and speeding up is comfortable and kind on your body, empathize with the motorcyclist, who does not have that facility. He travels in the hot sun exposed to the elements, and the noxious fumes emitted by other vehicles such as yours. Being kind to his ways will earn Allah’s kindness for you. If you see a motorcyclist behind you, acknowledge him, and give him room to pass, as you continue at a slower speed. When changing lanes, always consult the side mirrors and make sure you are not cutting off a motorcyclist trying to move forward. Your attention to another’s safety, will ensure Allah’s assistance to your own.

Lane laws are now being strictly enforced in our cities. The police say, that anyone caught violating these laws will face fines, so it’s a pretty serious affair. Given that no one really cared about these laws until now, here is a refresher of some of the laws you should keep in mind while driving from now on. This is not a comprehensive list of lane laws, but Ibn Serendib believes it maybe just enough to help you through the day.


Broken Lane Line – You can cross this line to overtake a vehicle in front of you, and you can cross it to turn into a street on the opposite side of the road.

Solid Lane Line – You CANNOT cross this line to overtake a vehicle in front of you, but you can cross it to turn into a street on the opposite side of the road.

Double Solid Lane Line – You CANNOT cross this line to overtake a vehicle in front of you, and you CANNOT cross this line to turn into a street on the opposite side of the road. YOU CANNOT CROSS THIS LINE FOR ANY REASON.

Solid and Broken Lane Line – You can cross this line to overtake a vehicle, if the broken line is on the same side as your lane. If the solid line is on the same side as your lane you cannot overtake a vehicle in front of you. In the illustration above, vehicles on the right lane can overtake a vehicle, but the vehicles on the left lane cannot overtake a vehicle. Vehicles on both sides can turn into a street on the opposite side of the road, by crossing the line.

Checkered area

Checkered area on the road – You CANNOT drive on this area for any reason. You CANNOT cross this area for any reason

In addition keep the following in mind as well -

Bus Lanes – The bus lane is usually situated on the left side of the road. It is an offence for any vehicle other than an omnibus, in service for public transport to use the bus lane. If you need to turn into a street on the left, keep off the bus lane until you need to turn and cut across.

Keep in between the lane lines – Your vehicle should be between the white lane lines when driving. In case the road is a single carriage way, your vehicle should be between the center line, and the solid white line marking the left side of the lane. DO NOT drive on the lines.

Signal always before changing lanes – If you are on a multilane road, always apply your signal when you are changing lanes. DO NOT change without signaling first!

Do not drive over the solid line on the left side of the lane – If there is a solid white line on the left side of the lane, it marks the end of the road, and beyond that is where the pedestrians walk. DO NOT cross it.

May Allah spare you any inconvenience!

Assalamu alaikum ya Nesan!

The diligent Saracen should spend some time reviewing road rules this Ramazan. It could save you a lot of trouble, as the Police are beginning to enforce traffic laws more strictly. Lane laws have come into special focus in Colombo. The lax lane discipline we have on our roads has become a real problem, especially during rush hour. Recent road expansions, and highway building have streamlined our traffic to a great extent, and enforcing lane laws, will greatly improve traffic movement.


Disobeying Lane laws slows down traffic and creates congestion. This has existential effects, in terms of wasted fuel, wasted time and environmental pollution. Good transport is critical to commerce, and when trucks get delayed money is wasted. Slow traffic slows down busses, creating inconvenience to the public. Ambulances, Fire Brigades and other critical services can reach their destinations quicker if the traffic on the road was orderly. Enlarging our roads and building new ones are an expensive undertaking. Therefore the responsible driver should adhere to our road rules like lane laws, so that we can maximize our investment in roads.

Rush hour traffic in Colombo is one of, if not the worst traffic jam you can find in the island. The recent increase in vehicle owners contributes to the congestion. Our roads can certainly accommodate the current traffic volumes if the motorists are more disciplined about the way they use lanes on the road. In their effort to ease congestion and move traffic more smoothly through rush hour, the Police have identified several key areas in the city of Colombo, where they will enforce lane laws more strictly. They hope that when drivers find themselves accountable for breaking the law, they will adhere to Lane Laws more closely in the future leading to better traffic flow.

The reader is directed to local media reports for the specifics of what the police have said. In this post Ibn Serendib highlights a few rules, which have come into special focus –

• Buses and Three-wheelers should use the designated Bus Lane, or the lane immediately next to it. 
• Sudden lane switches are prohibited. The driver is required to signal in the direction of the lane he wishes to cross to, and smoothly shift the vehicle giving vehicles at the rear plenty of time to notice the switch.
• Drivers should switch to the correct lane when turning, at least 20 - 50 meters before the actual turn. 
• Drivers should be on the correct lane to make a turn, and not make the turn from other lanes.
• Drivers should drive between the lines of their respective lane, and avoid crossing the lane separation lines, unless in a proper overtake maneuver. 
• Drivers should only overtake using the right lane to get ahead.
• Drivers should obey the stop line at traffic lights
• Drivers should give way to the right, at intersections, and roundabouts.

Apart from the ones above, the following rules should also be adhered to, as many have been charged for violating them –

• The vehicle's driver and front passenger should have their seat belts secured.
• Tinted stickers on driver side, and front passenger side windows, as well as the windscreen are prohibited, but a strip of tint not more than 20% of the windscreen in allowed to block the sun.

Although the Police are paying special attention to lane laws, they are also paying attention to all other laws of the road as well. Therefore if you feel that you are a bit rusty on the rules; buy a good book on Sri Lankan Road rules from your nearest bookshop and give it a read. If there is one thing that can really delay you on the road, it is getting held up by Police.

Obeying road rules is your moral and legal obligation. So this Ramazan let us all decide to be better drivers, not just in places where police are doing special enforcement, but everywhere in the island. God almighty himself has ordered the Muslim to be kind to the traveler in the noble Quran. This command applies as much to the caravans of old, as it does to the cars (and other types of vehicles) of present time.

May all your journeys lead to prosperity!

May peace be upon you dear reader, and welcome!

It is stated in our most beloved Al-Quran within the chapter titled Surah An-Nissa, in verse 36 the following command from all mighty Allah –

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful. – Al-Quran 4:36

In the verse mentioned above Allah directly commands his creation to do good for the traveler. The fact that this is stated in the same verse in which he commands you to do good for your parents and relatives should indicate the gravity of doing good for the traveler, and it is not unreasonable to think that being kind to the traveler warrants rewards comparable to being kind to your parents. Therefore it is well worthwhile for the Saraceni to uphold this command where ever possible.


To this end, one way you can do good for the traveler in this day and age is to allow them fair access to the humble pedestrian crossing. When a pedestrian is standing at the end of the crossing, awaiting an opportunity to cross the road, the diligent Saracen should make due note, and proceed to bring their vehicle to a stop before the crossing, and afford the traveler a chance to cross without fear. Despite the laws governing traffic in our beloved island explicitly stating that a driver should stop and give way to pedestrians, it is with great sadness that Ibn Serendib witnesses that this is rarely followed and a fair share of the perpetrators are his fellow Saraceni.

Serendib is a hot and humid place. Walking on our roads under the full power of our equatorial Sun is an adversity that has to be faced by any pedestrian. Adding to this is the lack of a comfortable pavement, which is often too small, uneven and in most cases nonexistent. The physical fatigue caused by being a pedestrian here is something we all know and avoid whenever we can. However for many Saraceni and indeed for many of those in other communal groups, a vehicle is not an option they can afford and journeys by foot is a daily requirement. Fatigued by a difficult road, fried by an un relentless Sun, and weighed down by the difficulties of the day and life in general, our pedestrians have to face an additional challenge when crossing the road.

Vehicle owners here have sparse regard for the rights of the pedestrian. The rights granted to them by law is continuously violated, as vehicles simply proceed to drive on, when the law requires them to stop and give way to the pedestrians at the pedestrian crossing. To counteract the selfish nature of our motorists, our pedestrians have resorted to just walking on to the crossing, despite traffic still moving, risking life and limb, and leaving themselves at the mercy of an unknown stranger in a vehicle. Many vehicles reluctant to stop at the pedestrian crossing slow down instead. They expect the pedestrian to cross without them stopping, and expect the pedestrian to trust that they can apply the brakes should they under estimate their speed. Please think a little bit here, with your head and your heart. Is it fair to expect a pedestrian to trust an unknown vehicle will brake on time, especially if their life and limb are at risk should the vehicle fail to do so? It is not fair dear Saracen, not by far.

Therefore dear reader, I would like to bring to your attention this problem and urge you to be a reformer. The next time you are at the wheel of a vehicle, care for those that do not have the same facility by following the proper procedure at the pedestrian crossing. The recommended approach for a motorist would be to immediately reduce the speed of your vehicle and bring it to a complete halt at the line before the pedestrian crossing when you notice pedestrians have gathered to cross. Wait until the pedestrians have crossed the road, and there is sufficient clearance before you push down on the accelerator and move the vehicle forward. The rights of the pedestrian have been violated for so long, and so prolifically that many pedestrians may refrain from crossing even though you have stopped your vehicle for them. Indeed for them it will be a rare and curious site to see a vehicle being so considerate, and sometimes they may stare at you in disbelief. Be patient dear Saracen, and gesture to them with your hands and invite them to cross in safety. The relief in their hearts will light up your image in the eyes of your beloved god.

By giving way to the pedestrians at the crossing, in the manner mentioned above not only makes you a law-abiding motorist, but it also makes you a faithful adherent to Allah, by obeying a direct command from him and doing good to the traveler.

May all your journeys lead you to prosperity in safety!

Peace be upon you dear reader, and welcome!

I would like to especially welcome those who smoke tobacco. Ramazan has once again crept up on you, and the absence of your beloved cigarette makes the fasting all the more challenging. Bear with patience and courage, as Allah sees your struggle and will certainly have mercy upon you. This year resolve to release yourself from your nicotine nourishment. You may have made the same resolutions during Ramazans bygone and failed, but fear not this year can always be different. Being a non-smoker makes fasting easier.


As god looks mercifully at those that are making a due effort to maintain the fast, there are still those for whom, letting Lady Tobacco go even during Ramazan is difficult. You may abstain from food and drink, but the cigarette vapor proves to defeat you. Its absence is a nerve wracking sense of restlessness, which you succumb to by smoking sometime during the day. To break your fast like this must be done in secret lest the "vultures of virtue" encircle you to feed on what little patience you have. This may lead you to light a cigarette at a public place such as the roadside, or restaurant where you could be anonymous and prevent your fast from being questioned by the people you know. This, my dear reader, is what Ibn Serendib wishes to warn you against in the strongest possible terms.

Allah is merciful my dear Kalla Nombaali, and this Ramazan may he grant you the courage and opportunity to fast during our blessed month. Though god is merciful, the law may be less likely to show mercy. As you may already know, smoking in public places is a legal offence in Serendib. This includes the road side and pavements, parks and gardens, restaurants and public buildings. Also included are private roads, residential streets and alleyways. Smoking, consuming alcohol and other controlled substances in public are punishable by law. If you get caught you may be liable to prosecution, fines and even detention. The government’s resolve to reduce tobacco consumption in Sri Lanka is plainly visible in its brutal price increase on a cigarette stick. This government initiative makes the Police and the court of law look at you extremely unfavorably should you smoke in public.

Therefore my dear Saracen, avoid at all costs, smoking in public places and if you cannot observe your fast, at least find a safer place for your indiscretions. You don’t need a criminal record for something like this. Concealing your secret habit this way may prove useless, when your family is notified of your detention by Police. And you may be left with a more nerve wrecking state of emotions, but this time you are in a police cell awaiting a hearing, and though god may afford you a cigarette in life, police stations are definitely non-smoking.

May you be safe and free.