செய்தி
The National Council for Road Safety and the Consumer Affairs Authority have jointly organized an awareness program which is implemented islandwide to create awareness on how to drive motorcycles and the importance of using quality helmets while riding, targeting motorcyclists who have been identified as the most vulnerable partners to rapidly increasing accidents.
An awareness program for motorcyclists was launched by each Regional Offices of the Consumer Affairs Authority in all districts at 9.00 a.m. on 05.03.2021 to mark World Consumer Rights Day. The inaugural programme of such programmes was conducted at Galle Face Green at 09.00 am under the patronage of Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Transport, Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Minister of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection, Mr.Monty Ranatunga, Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. R.L. Anton de Mens, Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety, DIG (Traffic) Mr.Sumith Nissanka and SSP Indika Hapugoda (Director, Traffic and Road Safety, Sri Lanka Traffic Police Headquarters)
The officials of the Sri Lanka Police, the National Hospital, the National Council for Road Safety and the Consumer Affairs Authority, with the participation of the two ministers, briefed on the precautions to be taken by motorcyclists in purchasing quality helmets.
In particular, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has made it mandatory for the helmets worn by motorcyclists to carry the SLS Product Certificate Logo issued in accordance with the Sri Lanka standards for safety helmets, and the public is advised to be careful to purchase such helmets when purchasing a helmet.
Number of motorcyclists killed in fatal road accidents in the last 5 years and data on accidents (Sources - National Council for Road Safety)
01. Number fatal road accidents in the last 5 years
| Year | Fatal | Fatal | Deaths |
| 2106 | 2838 | 39200 | 3020 |
| 2017 | 2965 | 37599 | 3154 |
| 2018 | 2994 | 35845 | 3151 |
| 2018 | 2688 | 30476 | 2851 |
| 2019 | 2040 | 23415 | 2141 |
| Total | 13525 | 166535 | 14317 |
02. Number of motorcyclists killed in fatal road accidents in the last 5 years
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total | % of the total in 05 years | |
| motorcyclists | 1155 | 1219 | 1255 | 1098 | 950 | 5677 | 39% |
| Pedestrians | 883 | 959 | 952 | 889 | 538 | 4221 | 30% |
| Foot cyclists | 246 | 295 | 256 | 229 | 159 | 1185 | 08% |
03. Number of motorcyclists responsible for fatal road accidents in 5 years-
| Vehicle responsible for | Number of motorcyclists responsible for road accidents in 5 years | % of the vehicle’s share of responsibility for accidents |
| Motorcycle | 5592 | 42.48% |
| lorry | 1687 | 12.81% |
| Three-wheeler | 1625 | 12.35% |
A special discussion was held at the Ministry of Transport, Battaramulla on 09.03.2021 under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Hon. Gamini Lokuge, with the representatives of the relevant parties and institutions to implement an electronic prepaid card system for public transport.
Representatives of the National Transport Commission, Sri Lanka Transport Board, Lanka Clear Ltd., People's Bank, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Western Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority and representatives of private passenger transport associations also participated in this discussion.
Problems arising during and after the implementation of the prepaid card system were discussed at length and by now, a lot of work related to the implementation of this project has been completed. This prepaid card system will be rolled out in several phases as a pilot project soon.
Inauguration of the new branch of the National Transport Medical Institute took place in Kandy on 20-03-02-2021 under the patronage of Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Transport and Dilum Amunugama, State Minister of Transport.
Lalith Alwis, Secretary to the State Ministry of Transport and Dr. Shavendra Gamage, Chairman of the National Institute of Transport Medicine were also present on the occasion.
The Ministry of Transport took action to implement a number of programs to mark the International Transport Day which fell on 05-03-2021.
The following activities were carried out under the direction of the Ministry of Transport and with the contribution of the Department of Sri Lanka Railways, Sri Lanka Transport Board, National Transport Commission, 3K Project, Colombo Suburban Railway Project, National Council for Road Safety, Road Passenger Transport Authority (Western Province),
- In celebration of the International Transport Day, contributing to the reduction of environmental pollution,adopting the theme “A plant for a bus” and “A plant for a vehicle”
■Planting of trees by the Hon. Minister and the heads of the institution.
■Planting a sapling for a bus starting journey from the Makumbura Multimodal Center, by the operators of the bus themselves.
■Planting a sapling for a bus at each bus depot around the island, by the Sri Lanka Transport Board
■Planting plants by the Department of Sri Lanka Railways at all railway stations.
- Creating awareness for refraining from tooting horns in vehicles between 10.00 a.m. to 10.02 a.m. throughout Sri Lanka
- Handing over of keys to 15 families to be resettled due to the development of the Kelani Valley Railway Line by the Colombo Suburban Railway Project
- Display of 300 banners symbolizing Vehicle Day
5.Awarding of compliments to 17 persons who have rendered special services to the field of transport (By selecting such persons through the relevant institutions themselves)
- Display of billboards showing the activities of all transport related institutions at the Makumbura Multipurpose Transport Center premises.
- Establishment of an exhibition unit on the history of the railway service at the Makumbura Multiple Transport Center premises.
8.Playing videos that show the services rendered by the transport sector institutions.
- Conducting a motorcade on 20-03-03-2021 using buses used by the Transport Board for the City Bus service.
- Initiation of Electronic Card with modernNSC technology, introduced by the National Transport Commission
- Awarding of compliments for employees in the transport sector, who provide an excellent service.
Addressing the gathering, Transport Minister Hon. GaminiLokuge said that an air pollution is caused, especially by the smoke emitted by vehicles and therefore, the Ministry of Transport had thus initiated a project to plant 5,000 saplings to minimize that situation.
He also said that everyone should ensure that the programs we launched today to coincide with International Transport Day continue, not being limited for today.
A discussion with the heads of the institutions implementing the City Bus Service (Park & Ride), chaired the Minister of Transport, Gamini Lokuge was held on 22-02-2821 at the Ministry of Transport, Battaramulla to review the progress so far achieved by the City Bus Service (Park & Ride - Pilot Project) currently operating from Makumbura Multipurpose Transport Center.
The shortcomings identified in the implementation of the Park &Ride (city bus) service were discussed at this meeting and it was decided to take necessary steps to expand the service to several identified corridors soon.
Accordingly, it has been decided to operate this service from the main bus stand in Piliyandala soon and steps will be taken to deploy modern passenger buses for this purpose.
Accordingly, the Minister instructed the officials to prepare a proper passenger transport schedule and take necessary steps to further expand the existing Park &Ride (city bus) service by overcoming the existing deficiencies.
Mr. Monty Ranatunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Lalith de Alwis, Secretary to the State Ministry of Transport, Mr. Shashi Welgama, Chairman of the National Transport Commission, Mr. Saman Lal Fernando, Chairman of the Moratuwa Urban Council, Mr. Lakshman Perera, Chairman of the Kesbewa Urban Council, Mr. Thushara Perera, former provincial councilor and the private secretary to the Minister of Transport and several heads of the government institutions were present on this occasion