The government has launched a Rs. 1.5 billion programme to secure unsafe and dangerous locations on roads outside the national highway system, with allocations of Rs. 60 million per district.

Memorandums of Understanding were signed yesterday (18) with local government institutions, enabling district‑level identification of hazardous road sites and implementation of safety measures. Chairpersons and mayors of local authorities participated in the signing.

The initiative follows a Cabinet memorandum presented on May 20, 2026, by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake, titled “Preparation of a suitable programme to make unsafe and dangerous places on roads not belonging to the national highway system safe.” Cabinet approval was granted on June 1, 2026.

Oversight of technical expertise and progress review has been assigned to the National Council on Road Safety, which will provide guidance to local authorities during implementation.

Speaking at the event, Minister Rathnayake said it was significant that such a national programme could be launched as the President completes two years in office. “The people built a government that protects the people. Therefore, the responsibility of protecting lives also lies with the government. Road safety cannot be solved only through discussions. A practical programme is needed,” he said.

He stressed that road accidents not only claim lives but also impose heavy economic and social costs. Road safety, he noted, must be treated as a national priority, not limited to traffic law enforcement.

The Minister added that unsafe physical conditions of roads must be addressed alongside awareness and legislation. “Identifying dangerous places and turning them into safe places is essential. That is the importance of this programme,” he said.

The MoUs will remain in effect until December 31, 2026, and are expected to help minimize accidents by swiftly securing unsafe road locations at regional level, thereby ensuring the safety of road users. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka has approved a new two-year Road Protection Action Plan aimed at reducing the country’s growing number of road accidents and fatalities.

According to police data, 118,697 road accidents were reported between 2020 and 2024, claiming 12,322 lives. The annual death rate has reached 11.2 per 10,000 people — exceeding the United Nations’ recommended safety limit for the current global action decade (2021–2030).

The plan also addresses safety risks at unprotected railway crossings, which have caused nearly 400 accidents in recent years.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Acting Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to launch the Road Protection Action Plan (2025–2026), focusing on improving road infrastructure, enforcing vehicle regulations, and promoting safer road use for all citizens. (Newswire)

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Two educational programmes focused on educating schoolchildren about road safety and responsible behaviour on the roads were launched today under the “Clean Sri Lanka” national programme. 

The programmes were launched as part of the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative aimed at reducing daily road accidents by raising public awareness and reshaping attitudes toward road safety.

The two new educational programs, titled “Clean Steps – Safety Roads – Be United for Road Safety”, were launched at the Rabindranath Tagore Auditorium of the University of Ruhuna and near the Matara Beach Park. 

The Sri Lanka Police supported the initiative by organizing a road safety exhibition near the beach park, which began at 8:00 am, with 1,300 students from schools in the Matara Education Zone participating.

The program’s core objective is to instil respect for traffic laws among students from an early age, shaping them into responsible and law-abiding citizens. 

It also aims to empower school road safety clubs to take an active role in promoting awareness, preventing accidents, and encouraging accountability. (Newswire)

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Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake says an 85-point proposal to ensure road safety will be enforced from 01 July, with a key focus on public and private buses.  

Minister Rathnayake said that the measures include mandatory seat belts for government bus drivers, a WhatsApp complaint system for the public, and mandatory seat belts for passengers of vehicles travelling on highways. 

He further said that following the implementation of these initial measures, the ministry will focus on further strengthening the relevant laws.

Minister Rathnayake also revealed that the ministry was considering introducing a social security system that grants a pension for private bus drivers, similar to public bus drivers. 

“We have proposed a pension system for private drivers reaching the age of 55. We hope to introduce this system in the next year,” he said. 

The Transport Minister further said that the ministry was working to combine both public and private buses operating in Kandy and the 138-route under a profit-sharing system.

“Bus racing is a key concern. Some private bus owners own just 01 or 02 buses. So, we have focused on the Kandy and 138 bus routes. We have commenced combining both private and public buses on these routes as one community. They will receive a portion of the day’s entire profit brought by all buses. We intend to introduce a profit-sharing method, similar to overseas,” he said. 

Minister Rathnayake also said that bus drivers are being provided basic training, adding that 1000 bus drivers in 25 places in the country have been trained, and that the training program will continue.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake made the remarks while speaking to reporters today. (Newswire)

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