Almost 2,000 fatalities occurred in road accidents
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety, Indika Hapugoda, has revealed that nearly 2,000 people have lost their lives in fatal road accidents during the first six months of 2025.
“From January 1 to June 15, 2025, a total of 1,133 fatal accidents were reported, resulting in the deaths of nearly 2,000 individuals,” said the DIG Hapugoda, speaking at a press briefing held at the Department of Government Information in Colombo.
This is a very serious situation. To put it in perspective, around 28,000 people died during the 30-year civil war. In comparison, we are now seeing nearly 7 people leave home each morning to earn a living, only for their families to find them dead by evening,” he said.
This is an extremely critical situation. To provide context, approximately 28,000 individuals lost their lives throughout the 30-year civil war. In contrast, nearly 7 individuals are departing their homes each morning to work, only for their families to discover them deceased by evening,” he stated
He further stated that, starting July 1, 2025, authorities will begin removing unauthorized and unnecessary vehicle modifications and spare parts that contribute to traffic hazards.
“Road accidents have become a ‘silent epidemic’ in the country,” remarked so, by Dr. Indika Jagoda, Director of the Accident and Orthopedic Services Department at Colombo National Hospital, also addressing the media briefing.
