Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake has issued an urgent nationwide appeal for seatbelt compliance on Avurudu Day, expressing deep concern over a sharp rise in road fatalities during the festive travel season.
The minister said 49 people died in road accidents between April 4 and April 10, well above the daily average of five to six deaths. He described the spike as a tragic and “unbearable” burden.
Rathnayake specifically urged rear-seat passengers to buckle up, noting they often suffer the most severe injuries because they frequently neglect this safety measure. He asked citizens to prioritise their lives and ensure the festive season is not marred by preventable tragedies.
The minister’s directive comes on the same day that over 8,000 police officers have been deployed for traffic duty islandwide and expressway CCTV monitoring has been intensified to catch speeding.
Sri Lanka’s road safety record during the Avurudu period has been a recurring concern, with six killed on a single pre-Avurudu day and a fatal expressway lorry crash in recent days.
The appeal follows a broader government effort to manage holiday-period risks including bus ticket scam enforcement and deployment of 1,500 extra buses and trains for return travel from April 16.
