Approximately 29,000 people are currently receiving hospital treatment for accident-related injuries sustained during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season, according to Dr. Samitha Sirithunga, Head of the Accident Prevention Unit at the Health Ministry’s Non-Communicable Disease Unit.
Speaking on Sunday, Dr. Sirithunga said around 1.3 million people are hospitalised each year due to accidents, with the highest concentration occurring during the New Year holiday period. Road traffic accidents account for the largest share of admissions, followed by falls, animal bites, assaults, and other injuries.
Fireworks injuries decline
In a rare positive note, the official said injuries caused by fireworks have dropped compared to previous years. The National Eye Hospital Director separately urged the public to exercise caution with firecrackers during the festivities.
The hospital admissions data paints a broader picture beyond the 49 road deaths recorded in the week of April 4-10 and the six fatalities on Avurudu day itself. While fatal crashes make headlines, the 29,000-strong hospitalisation figure reveals the full scale of the injury burden on the healthcare system.
Authorities had earlier deployed 8,000 police officers for traffic duty and activated expressway CCTV monitoring in an effort to curb dangerous driving during the holiday rush. Higher accident rates outside the Western Province suggest rural roads remain particularly hazardous.
