The Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to contribute to this debate on regulations presented by the Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.

¶ 02 Our highway network is primarily designed for transport needs, yet in Sri Lanka it is used for many other activities. A growing, dangerous trend is driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

¶ 03 Having served over 20 years in hospitals, including five years in neurosurgery, I have seen first-hand the consequences—night after night, motorcyclists and drivers involved in crashes are brought in. These impose a heavy burden on national resources. On average, around 3,000 deaths and about 8,000 critical injuries occur annually, with tens of thousands of minor injuries. A significant share—up to 80 percent—can be linked to alcohol and drug use while driving.

¶ 04 Beyond laws and infrastructure, we must change the mindset with which people use roads. The prevailing “go anyway” attitude among motorcyclists, three-wheelers and small vehicles must end. Attention and compliance with road rules is essential.

¶ 05 Visual pollution and commercial billboards obscure road signs; many school gates open directly to main roads, creating congestion and risk. We need to reconfigure school access and ensure that highways are dedicated to transport with clear, visible signing.

¶ 06 If we build a transport-dedicated system and change road-user behavior, we can reduce approximately 3,000 annual deaths, 8,000 critical injuries and 15,000 minor injuries. Let us all work together to minimize road accidents. Thank you.