Highest fatal accidents in a day in SL history

Ridma Dissanayake

Fifteen road accidents had claimed 17 persons from Saturday 6am to yesterday 6am, Police Media Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said. This is the largest number of fatal accidents in one day in Sri Lankan history, he added.

The accidents were in Ruwanwella, Ragama, Wattala, Meerigama, Kochchikade, Eppawala, Kuliyapitiya, Kurunegala, Akuressa, Matara, Ahungalla, Mahiyangana and Payagala.

Two accidents out of 15 were in Payagala which claimed two cyclists. The majority of victims were above 50.

The drivers and cyclists' carelessness, high speed driving, drunk driving, not obeying road rules and signals, carelessness of pedestrians and sleepiness resulted in the accidents, the Spokesman said.

According to Police sources, 156 road accidents were reported from the beginning of this year.

SSP Rohana urged the public to be careful when using roads and to obey road rules and signals.