A journey of hearts on three wheels

Participants at the charity ride organised by PMTT in Sri Lanka

By Allaam Ousman

Negombo’s morning streets buzzed with colour and anticipation on September 20 as 42 riders from 11 countries revved up their tuk-tuks for the start of the Pimp My Tuk Tuk (PMTT) Charity Ride 2025, an extraordinary journey blending adventure with purpose.

The convoy-with participants from the UK, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the USA, Hong Kong, Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands-set out on a 1,300-kilometre odyssey across the island. Their route wound through Kurunegala, Sigiriya, Mihintale, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Ampara, Monaragala, Dickwella and Hikkaduwa, before concluding in Colombo on September 26 with a visit to the Foundation of Goodness’ Centre of Excellence in Seenigama.

I always say volunteering is priceless, because the time you give can never be relived. That sacrifice leaves a lasting legacy - you will rejoice in it in your advancing years, knowing you touched lives with generosity and goodwill. Our aim has always been to bridge the urban-rural divide”
Kushil Gunasekera, Founder of the Foundation of Goodness

It was the third such charity ride organised by PMTT in Sri Lanka, following the success of the 2015 and 2017 editions. This year’s participants - mostly expatriates based in Singapore - raised funds through the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) to support women’s empowerment, children’s education, and access to clean water in underprivileged communities.

Smiles that never fade

There is something about Sri Lanka that makes people smile - a smile that never fades, no matter the circumstance. It is that very smile that has drawn a group of foreign adventurers back to the island again and again, not just to explore its beauty, but to give something back to its people.

“People always have a smile on their face,” said Alex Longman, one of the organisers of the tuk-tuk ride across Sri Lanka. “We’ve found that the reception is so good, it just makes us even more enthusiastic about trying to help and raise money for them,” said Longman. 

Longman, originally from London and now living in Singapore, is no stranger to adventure. “This is the third time we’ve done a tuk-tuk ride,” he explained. “We also did a 100km walk from Colombo to Galle back in 2018. Our first trip was in India in 2013, and then we carried it on from there to Sri Lanka - and we’ve stuck with Sri Lanka ever since. It’s beautiful, you see. The hills and plantations, the beaches, the natural wildlife - it’s everything about the country. It’s just amazing,” he said. 

This year’s journey was their most ambitious yet - a 1,350-kilometre loop around the island. “We started in Negombo, went all the way up to Jaffna, then down the East Coast and over to Tangalle, before heading back to Colombo,” Alex said, still visibly excited. “Normally we go top to bottom or across and down, but this one was a big one,” he added. 

For the team, every day was a mix of laughter, surprise, and emotion. “Yesterday was the weather,” Alex recalled with a grin. “That was a new experience for everyone - we’d had beautiful weather all the way, hot, sunny, and dry, and then the rain came. I was trying to work out how to get the windscreen demister working yesterday. I couldn’t find the button! But it’s lovely being in the open air. It’s nice until you’re next to a bus and the fumes are coming in - but other than that, it’s great,” he said. 

Along the way, the riders stopped at several project sites — including a school in Kurunegala where they served lunch to children, and two Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purification Plants they built in Mihintale and Thanthirimale.

“These are just two of seven plants we’ve helped construct since 2015,” Longman explained. In these areas, where Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has devastated communities, access to clean water has been life-saving. In Mihintale, villagers reported that after receiving clean water for over a decade, no new cases of CKD have emerged and patients are now able to manage their illness.

Ongoing commitment 

The team also visited three Village Heartbeat Empowerment (VHE) Centres run by the Foundation of Goodness in Vavuniya, Trincomalee, and Ampara. The Vavuniya Centre is currently sponsored by PMTT. “These centres bring opportunity to rural districts,” said Longman, who added, “You can see the impact — from teaching computer literacy to helping women start small businesses”.

The riders also visited the Meth Sewa Foundation home in Moneragala, which cares for special-needs residents. “PMTT was introduced to Meth Sewa by FoG in 2017, and they’ve been supporting it ever since. It’s wonderful to see that ongoing commitment,” noted one of the coordinators. 

The highlight for Longman, however, isn’t the ride itself, but witnessing the change their efforts bring. “It’s lovely to see progression,” he said softly. “When I last came, the children’s school was all open air and out in the playground. Now it’s got nice windows and proper facilities. We’ve been to special needs schools - which upset everybody - but everyone can see how much even a little help can change lives. It’s all about the excitement of driving a tuk-tuk through the rain, seeing the kids, getting emotional about it, and watching women being given training and opportunities. That’s what keeps us coming back,” said Longman. 

He smiled and added, “We’ll be back in two years. It takes about nine or ten months to organise each trip, so every two years is probably right. It gives me a rest - a good, warm rest for a couple of months - and then we get started again.”

Among those joining Longman was Mark Souza, an American from Connecticut now living in Singapore. “That’s where I met my tuk-tuk team - Alex, Paul, and Gary,” he said. “They convinced me to come on this trip, and I thought it would be fun and for a good cause,” he added.

Souza works for Microsoft and is proud of the company’s contribution to the Foundation of Goodness, the Sri Lankan charity benefiting from the trip. “Microsoft donated 300 software licences to the Foundation,” he said adding, “And the people of Microsoft raised over US$50,000. We’re very proud of that.”

But beyond corporate goodwill, the experience has been deeply personal for him. “We wake up every day expecting clean water and food on the table,” he said. “Then you come here and see that’s not always the case. Every dollar we raise matters, and the Foundation of Goodness is a fantastic organisation to work with. You have preconceived expectations before you get here, but when you see it, you feel it. It changes everything. It’s life-changing,” said Souza. 

He had never driven a tuk-tuk before this trip. “It was fun - and a little crazy,” he laughed. “Maybe a cracked windshield or a broken mirror here and there, but overall, it was amazing. We drove from eight in the morning to five in the evening, for seven days straight. It’s been emotional, exhausting, and unforgettable,” he said. 

Tony Hudson, originally from England and now based in Perth, Australia, brought with him not just enthusiasm but also a lifeline for hundreds of families. “We’ve got a company in Australia called Reece Foundation,” he explained. “They try to support overseas projects, and I’ve been lucky to get them to donate twice. We managed to build two water treatment plants in Sri Lanka, serving about 6,000 people. With the chronic kidney disease problem here, clean water is vital. It’s humbling to be able to help,” Hudson said. 

He has become something of a veteran of the tuk-tuk expeditions. “This is my second tour,” he said. “I haven’t driven this type of vehicle before - I’ve been a very good passenger all the way around!” he laughed. “There’s a lot of camaraderie. Only six of us have done the trip before, so there are many new people this time. Everyone’s eyes have been opened. It’s very emotional - long days, short nights - but it’s amazing,” he said. 

For David Horanz, another American and longtime friend of Mark Souza, the journey has been both an adventure and a reunion. “Mark and I are old friends from about 35 years ago,” he said. “We worked for IBM at the same time and stayed in touch. When he asked if I wanted to participate, I said yes - and now here I am” said Horanz. 

It was Horanz’s first time in Sri Lanka and his first time behind the wheel of a tuk-tuk. “I’ve learned a lot this week,” he said, adding, “The Foundation of Goodness does good work. Anybody who donates should feel confident knowing their money goes where it’s truly needed. They really do a great job of identifying the right areas of need”.

When asked what stood out most, Horanz didn’t hesitate. “The people. Seeing the people, meeting them. Everybody here is very, very nice - super friendly, big smiles, just lovely. You can’t help but be touched.”

For these travellers, what began as an adventurous charity challenge has become something deeper - a journey of discovery, empathy, and connection.

From the rain-soaked roads of Jaffna to the bright laughter of schoolchildren in Tangalle, every kilometre has been a reminder that giving is not just about money - it’s about presence, compassion, and the simple act of caring.

As Longman put it best, “It’s all about seeing things progressing and knowing that somehow, in our small way, we’ve made a difference. That’s what keeps us coming back.”

At the heart of the PMTT journey stands Kushil Gunasekera, Founder of the Foundation of Goodness, whose team coordinated the charity’s local outreach. 

“The way you have ridden over the past eight days has been truly phenomenal. I know what it was like battling the tsunami, but looking at you riding through this heat and humidity, I feel this might have been even harder. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here with such compassion and care,” said Kushil.

Every dollar we raise matters, and the Foundation of Goodness is a fantastic organisation to work with. You have preconceived expectations before you get here, but when you see it, you feel it. It changes everything. It’s life-changing”
Mark Souza, Participant for Singapore 

“I always say volunteering is priceless, because the time you give can never be relived. That sacrifice leaves a lasting legacy - you will rejoice in it in your advancing years, knowing you touched lives with generosity and goodwill. Our aim has always been to bridge the urban-rural divide. You are standing now at the place of my ancestral home. I built this villa in 1999, as you can see from the photographs. Some of you - Alex, Paul, Giri, and Vijay - have been here before. This is now the third PMTT tuk-tuk ride, and I must say it has had a huge impact - not only for the Foundation of Goodness but also for Sri Lanka as a tourism innovation and community engagement project,” he said.

“The generosity of these riders has transformed lives in countless villages,” Kushil adds. “They’ve supported clean water, education, and women’s empowerment - but more importantly, they’ve shared love, respect, and friendship. The connection between these riders and rural Sri Lanka is deeply human. It reminds us that compassion knows no boundaries,” said Kushil. 

Kushil noted that partnerships like PMTT represent the Foundation’s mission of “empowering rural communities to bridge the gap between urban and rural Sri Lanka.”

Pre-school children at Foundation of Goodness in Seenigama warmly welcoming the participants

Vehicles used for Pimp My Tuk Tuk (PMTT) Charity Ride 2025