November 30, 2019, Kandy, Sri Lanka A ‘Symposium on Achieving Sustainable Road Safety in Sri Lanka: An update on legislation and law enforcement and a workshop for journalists on reporting road safety’ was conducted on 30 November 2019, in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The symposium was conducted with support from WHO Sri Lanka and SEARO. It was attended by over 130 participants, including representatives from Central Province police stations, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Medical Association, Provincial Road Development Authority, Ceylon Transport Board and numerous other key stakeholders.
The symposium emphasized the need for collaborative action to achieve sustainable road safety in Sri Lanka. Road safety is an urgent public health issue that is both a national and WHO priority. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals set a target of halving the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020. However, the most recent WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety made it clear that insufficient progress has been made. Road traffic accidents have risen in the recent past, with 1.35 million fatalities reported annually. Worldwide, road traffic injuries are now the number one cause of death for young people between the ages of 5 and 29.
The South-East Asia region has the second-highest rate of road traffic deaths in the world. In Sri Lanka, more than 3,000 road traffic deaths and over 35,000 road accidents were reported in 2018 (1).
(1) Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, National Council for Road Safety Statistics
During the symposium, Mr Ajith Rohana, Deputy Inspector General Legal, Discipline and Conduct, presented an analysis of existing legislation and law enforcement policies pertaining to road safety in Sri Lanka. He highlighted key issues to be addressed, including comptetion amongst bus drivers, safety standards in vehicles, and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Mr Keerthi Kodithuwakku, CEO, Effective Solutions Pvt Ltd, introduced the Sri Lanka Accident Data Management System (SLADMS). The SLADMS is a tool that allows police to document and analyze road traffic accident data quickly and efficiently, enabling the rapid implementation of effective solutions. Dr Achala Jayathileke, National Consultant, WHO Sri Lanka, and Mr Ajith Rohana discussed guidelines for journalists on how to report road traffic accidents and standards for media reporting on issues related to road safety. They emphasized the need for journalists to be both accurate and sensitive, conveying the gravity of an incident without sensationalizing a tragedy.
It was a successful and informative meeting and WHO looks forward to partnering with all relevant stakeholders to increase road safety nationwide.