Minister Urges Public to Prioritize Road Safety During Festive Season

COLOMBO (News 1st) - With millions expected to travel across the country during the festive period, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake highlighted the increased risk of road accidents and urged all citizens—especially public transport providers—to take simple but crucial precautions.

He stressed that long-distance routes like Colombo to Anuradhapura and travel on expressways carry a higher risk of serious accidents. He also reminded private vehicle users that safety doesn't end with the driver.

According to the Minister, Sri Lanka loses approximately 2,300 lives to road accidents each year, with the festive season often contributing to a tragic spike in those numbers.