The Sri Lanka Police have renewed their call for motorists to strictly adhere to lane discipline, citing a sharp rise in road fatalities and worsening traffic congestion in the Colombo District.
Speaking to the media, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F. U. Wootler, the official Police Spokesperson, stressed that lane laws are mandatory and clearly defined under Section 148 of the Motor Traffic Act.
“Lane rules are not optional or supplementary. They are legally enforceable provisions designed to save lives,” ASP Wootler emphasized.
He revealed that five major roads channel approximately 500,000 vehicles into Colombo each day, placing immense pressure on the city’s traffic system. Alarmingly, 1,332 people have died in road accidents across the country so far in 2025. Data from past years shows a persistent pattern of 7 to 8 traffic-related deaths per day.
ASP Wootler urged passengers, particularly those using public transport, to report reckless or dangerous driving by calling emergency hotlines 119 or 118, and providing the bus number and location.
“Our officers are not enforcing traffic laws to inconvenience the public, but to protect lives,” he stated, urging full cooperation from all road users.
The police continue to enforce stricter traffic regulations across the island, with a strong focus on improving safety and reducing preventable fatalities on the roads.
