July 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has witnessed a disturbing rise in road-related fatalities during the first half of 2025, with official police data revealing a total of 1,274 fatal accidents that claimed 1,351 lives between January and July.
This marks a significant year-on-year increase, with 129 more lives lost and 108 additional fatal incidents compared to the same period in 2024.
The figures paint a troubling picture not only in terms of fatal outcomes but also broader road safety. In the first six months of the year, authorities recorded more than 2,600 serious accidents, 4,642 minor collisions, and 2,018 cases of property damage stemming from road-related incidents.
The most devastating incident so far occurred in May, when a passenger bus travelling along the Nuwara Eliya–Gampola main road veered off course at Gerandi Ella in Ramboda, plunging down a steep incline.
The crash left 22 people dead and over 30 others seriously injured, shocking the nation and prompting urgent calls for action.
In the aftermath of the Ramboda tragedy, law enforcement authorities moved swiftly. A special committee was tasked with investigating the root causes of the crash, and their findings led Police Headquarters to issue a directive holding police leadership accountable.
Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of police and traffic units across the country now face disciplinary measures if they fail to identify, report, and address hazardous road zones within their jurisdictions.
The Acting Inspector General of Police has reinforced this directive, instructing all 607 police divisions to coordinate closely with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and local governing bodies. The focus, he said, must shift from reactive policing to proactive prevention, particularly in regions known for frequent or severe traffic incidents.
Authorities have so far identified 779 high-risk locations across the national road network. Police confirm that a detailed set of safety recommendations has already been handed over to the RDA, aimed at addressing these danger zones through infrastructure improvements, better signage, and stricter enforcement of road laws.
Police Headquarters has made it clear that further negligence will not be tolerated. Divisions failing to implement safety measures or respond adequately to known risks may face serious internal consequences.
