Who are your favourite clients?
I picked up some people from Ireland, after they won the match against Australia. They drunk too much, but they were very honest and no trouble. I got a tip, £10 [$17.20], from one Irish guy.
Where were you before New Zealand?
Melbourne, and Matara [Sri Lanka], where I was born. Money-wise Melbourne is better. Life-wise, Auckland. It's quiet and very peaceful. In Sri Lanka I was a gemologist. I was the quality controller, checking the gems. But I couldn't find a job here.
Your favourite gem?
Blue sapphire.
So is that what you gave your wife at your wedding?
No, it would have cost $5000-$6000. I gave her jewellery from Pascoes.
Do gemologists make good taxi drivers?
You need good eyes. See. [Narrowly missing a swerving driver] I have good eyes.
Good eyes for spotting people doing a runner?
It's part of the job. But I never run after them.
Do you prefer rugby or cricket?
Sri Lanka play rugby but they're not that good. I grew up in the same town as [Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath] Jayasuriya. He would play with us with a tennis ball in the evening on the beach.
And fielding against Jayasuriya didn't teach you how to run?
Jayasuriya was not good then, he was small. I bowled medium-fast, but only with a tennis ball. I never bowled [Jayasuriya] out, though.
Has your taxi camera made you feel safer?
Not really. They're too late. They do not prevent, just record.
Any incidents in your cab?
No one's thrown up. No fights. Some romance, though.
