The Hon. Manjula Suraweera Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, we debate regulations under a special law to ensure the safety of people and the road system.

¶ 02 From 2020 to 2025-06-30, there were 13,048 fatal accidents, 37,999 serious accidents, 50,893 accidents with minor injuries, and 32,053 property-damage-only accidents. We have lost 13,714 precious lives. About 53 percent of accidents are due to driver fault, increasingly linked to negligence and the use of substances such as alcohol, “ice,” cannabis, heroin and pills—killing innocents, including pedestrians and schoolchildren.

¶ 03 A recent test in Colombo indicated about 45 percent of apprehended drivers in accident cases were using methamphetamine (“ice”), and about 25 percent cannabis. Beyond the immeasurable human loss, these accidents drain GDP: treatment costs are estimated at Rs. 40–50 billion annually, with additional infrastructure damages (utility poles, roads, culverts) of Rs. 60–70 billion. Overall losses approximate 3–4 percent of GDP—akin to the “Ditva” cyclone taking a similar bite from the economy each year.

¶ 04 The Government is focusing on legal reforms and enforcement to build a disciplined environment, while also responding to the disaster. In Nuwara Eliya District, contrary to criticism, Rs. 25,000 relief has been paid to 8,127 recipients (100 percent), Rs. 50,000 to 1,190, and Rs. 15,000 to 1,306 schoolchildren—now fully disbursed. Compensation to affected cultivations (3,274 accounts) has been credited. Of 668 affected industries, for those under the Industry Ministry (173), 143 are processed for payments. For roads damaged by “Ditva,” about Rs. 69.2 billion is estimated for initial works; around Rs. 55 billion is needed immediately for the Central Province. Allocations for 2026 have been prepared to address “Ditva” impacts.

¶ 05 Rail services are being restored; SLTB buses have been deployed; schools are reopening; resettlement and housing reconstruction for approximately 700 fully damaged houses are being planned. Drivers must uphold their responsibility to protect lives and contribute positively to the national economy. Thank you.