No rest area for motorists between Welipenna and Mattala

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The police have recommended that the Road Development Authority (RDA) establish an additional service/rest area between Welipenna and Mattala, citing the lack of facilities for motorists to rest or take a toilet break after the Welipenna service area. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Traffic Division, Indika Hapugoda, told The Island.

“Some accidents on the Southern Expressway occur because drivers fall asleep at the wheel. There is no designated spot to park vehicles if drivers feel drowsy; nor is there a place to take a toilet break beyond Welipenna. We have urged the RDA to construct another rest area at a suitable location between Welipenna and Mattala,” he stated.

DIG Hapugoda said that, as a temporary measure, driver are permitted to stop at the bays designated for police vehicles on the Southern Expressway. “However, we monitor the activity in these bays to ensure that people do not misuse this opportunity,” he added.

Explaining the traffic plan the police have implemented during the festive season and their attempts to reduce road accidents, the Traffic DIG said Sri Lanka has 8.4 million registered vehicles and 116,350 kilometres of roads. Of these vehicles, 4.4 million are motorbikes, and 1.1 million are three-wheelers.

“Approximately 500,000 vehicles enter Colombo daily, and the number increases during this festive period. To deal with this, and to reduce accidents, we have implemented a special traffic plan. In 2021, there were 2,414 fatal accidents resulting in 2,513 deaths. In 2022, 2,395 fatal accidents led to 2,515 deaths. In 2023, there were 2,214 fatal accidents, causing 2,421 deaths. From 1 January to 20 December 2024, there have been 2,178 fatal accidents, resulting in 2,280 deaths,” he said.

DIG Hapugoda noted that deaths from all types of accidents is a serious issue here and that around 12,000 people die annually due to various accidents, including drowning, suicides, and falls. Of this number, approximately 20 percent are caused by road accidents. “Ninety percent of those killed in road accidents are motorcyclists, cyclists, or pedestrians,” he pointed out.

Among road accident fatalities, roughly 1,000 are motorcyclists, while about 900 are pedestrians. “These pedestrian fatalities are often due to their negligence,” Hapugoda added.

“At least seven people die each day from road accidents and about 10-15 people are admitted to ICUs,” he said.

Responding to public sentiment suggesting that police officers should not be involved in traffic management and that traffic lights alone could ensure a smooth flow of vehicles, DIG Hapugoda clarified that traffic lights in Colombo are managed by two entities—the Road Development Authority (RDA) and the Colombo Municipal Council. He explained that without proper synchronisation between these two systems, traffic flow could be significantly disrupted.

“The Sri Lanka Police also utilise drone technology and CCTV cameras to improve traffic flow. However, the morning traffic into Colombo is so intense that bottlenecks are unavoidable,” he said.

Hapugoda insisted on the necessity of police intervention in traffic management, adding, “If the police did not step in, people might only reach their workplaces by 11 a.m.” He also revealed plans to collaborate with universities in the coming months to explore ways to make the traffic management system more efficient.

In a bid to tackle allegations that traffic policemen often seek bribes, DIG Hapugoda said the acting IGP also plans to introduce body-cams for policemen and this would ensure transparency and minimise the opportunity for corruption.