INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sagala Ratnayaka, the Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced that
the President will swiftly establish a high-level committee dedicated to the prevention and management of road accidents and their
associated fatalities and disabilities.Mr
which took place at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo today (01)
This conference was organized by the Expert Committee for Road Accident Prevention of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and primarily
aimed to mitigate avoidable child fatalities and lifelong disabilities resulting from road accidents
The discussions at the conference covered various aspects such as education, healthcare, transportation and law enforcement in relation to
Samath Dharmaratne, Chairman of the Expert Committee to Prevent Road Accidents, highlighted a troubling global statistic, revealing that a
road accident leads to a fatality every 42 seconds worldwide
However, he also pointed out that high-income countries have relatively lower rates of disability and death due to road accidents compared
to other nations.Additionally, Prof
Dharmaratne emphasized that in 2023, 115 children have tragically lost their lives as a result of road accidents in Sri Lanka
victims of these accidents, either losing their lives or facing disabilities.He further revealed that, on average, approximately 3,000
individuals lose their lives in road accidents in Sri Lanka each year and this concerning trend appears to be on the rise.Prof
Samath Dharmaratne underscored the alarming prospect that, in comparison to future accidents, the numbers of fatalities and individuals
suffering from disabilities resulting from road accidents will surge by thousands, leading to substantial economic losses for the
country.Given this dire situation, Prof
Dharmaratne stressed the urgent need for the establishment of a high-level committee dedicated to the prevention and management of road
accidents and their related consequences.Mr
Sagala Ratnayaka, in his additional comments, shared that when initially invited to participate in the event, they were discussing the
formation of a committee aimed at preventing and controlling road accidents, along with the associated deaths and disabilities
by the President for this purpose.He acknowledged several critical issues, starting with the problem of reckless driving
Moreover, certain vehicles, such as three-wheelers commonly used in the country, fail to meet adequate safety standards
Ratnayaka recognized that an outright ban on three-wheelers is not feasible overnight, given the significant impact on the livelihoods of
many and the transportation needs of the public
reaches a more developed stage.The condition of the road infrastructure also received attention
Sri Lanka lacks an extensive road network and even its main roads often suffer from perilous conditions
The Southern Expressway, for instance, is susceptible to flooding during heavy rains
Ratnayaka proposed the creation of designated parking lanes to address problems related to vehicle issues or driver fatigue, offering a safe
space for drivers to resolve these concerns.Furthermore, he recognized issues in the enforcement of law and order on the roads, including
problems stemming from inadequate staffing and insufficient equipment and technology
Ratnayaka emphasized that waiting for a complete resolution of these issues would only exacerbate the problems
Instead, he advocated for the development of short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans to address road safety comprehensively,
acknowledging that the committee tasked with this endeavour would need to consider numerous complex issues.Finally, he mentioned the
This committee would evaluate whether the country should adopt an open policy on vehicle imports or implement a system similar to Singapore,
where a fixed number of permits are issued each year for vehicle imports.Additionally, to ensure a sustainable balance in the number of
This consideration should encompass factors like the future economic landscape and the state of the road infrastructure
The issue of road accidents also holds significant importance in this context
Consequently, the committee will engage in discussions with various stakeholders to formulate relevant plans.Mr
As a result, President Ranil Wickremesinghe will expeditiously establish a high-level committee dedicated to preventing and managing road
accidents, along with their associated fatalities and disabilities.I should note that we have facilitated a meeting between the Sri Lanka
Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Chairman of the National Drug Regulatory Authority Dr
Ananda Wijewickrama, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Mr
Vinya Ariyaratne, and representatives from various fields, including Health, Information Technology, Engineering, Transport, as well as the
three armed forces and the Sri Lanka Police
International organizations such as the United Nations, UNICEF, Red Cross and foreign embassies were also represented at this event.
