‘Road accidents a matter of grave concern’

GAMPAHA: Ever increasing number of road accidents in our country is a matter of grave concern that need to be addressed immediately by the law enforcement authorities and all civic conscious people of this country, said Minister Karu Jayasuriya yesterday. He was addressing a meeting of professional organisations in Gampaha, a release from the Public Administration and Home Affairs said.

It said: According to reports last year there had been 33339 road accidents of various nature. The loss of life and the people who have suffered grievous injuries account for more than 6,000. Nearly 2000 innocent pedestrians have lost their lives.

Consequently their dependants and loved ones are rendered destitute. If this situation continues un-arrested its cumulative effect will be disastrous to the society, the minister warned. He appealed to the drivers to look at this situation with empathy. They should think how they would feel if such an unfortunate thing happens to one of their loved ones.

When they take the wheel they should know that not only his but lives of number of many other people who are travelling in the vehicle rest on him. The Minister said there should be a concerned effort by all the key players in the transport industry to tackle this social problem which has now grown to an unmanageable proportion. It should not be left to the police alone.

He said if there is anything that could be done by the administrative apparatus which comes under his Ministry to curb this situation, he would be most willing to offer the services. If the existing laws are inadequate to deal with the situation we should think of new legal remedies. But he said more than introducing new laws it is the effective implementation of the existing ones that matter.