Islandwide program launched to promote seat belt use on expressways

13 August 2025 08:57 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, August 13 (Daily Mirror) - A program aimed at sensitizing drivers and passengers on the enforcement and practical use of seat belts was held today at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) exit of the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway. The event was conducted under the patronage of Harsha Abeywickrama, Chairman of Airports and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd.

As part of the initiative, printed pamphlets were distributed to raise awareness, and drivers and passengers expressed their appreciation for the program. The initiative, aimed at promoting safe transportation, received special recognition from foreign tourists using the expressway system.

This program forms one phase of a broader campaign to reduce fatal and non-fatal road accidents, emphasizing the proper use of vehicle seat belts. It is scheduled to be implemented islandwide under the ‘Road Safety Action Plan’, a two-year action plan of the Ministry.

The law making seat belt use mandatory has been gradually introduced: from July 1, all drivers are required to wear seat belts; from August 1, rear-seat passengers in light vehicles on expressways must also comply; and from September 1, all passengers in all vehicles on expressways will be legally required to wear seat belts.

Comments - 14

Lankan Wednesday, 13 August 2025 10:50 PM

Not only on express way but also everywhere: why do you limit on express way alone? Why not all ways ? Charge some penalties all drivers nationwide You can not teach them any lesson till you put some penalties They learn with that soon Make sure police don’t make money out of this .

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maruwa samaga wase Wednesday, 13 August 2025 11:55 PM

Fastening of seatbelt should be made mandatory. Even highly educated people don't fasten seatbelts in Sri Lanka.

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Dimithri Jayasekera Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:20 AM

I'm unsure how I can fix seat belts in my 1953 car. Incorrect, uncertified fixing of seat belts could be a serious problem. I live is Australia and an accredited Engineer need to certify the installation and it need to pass the RWC. In most of the advanced countries retro fitting of seat belts are required if a vehicle had them originally.

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Jude Thursday, 14 August 2025 06:38 AM

More than the seatbelts, get the idiots off from the expressways. Have mandatory expressway driving test. Otherwise frequent accidents on expressways unavoidable. Majority of drivers have absolutely no experience of driving at excessive speeds(around 100 km/h) And pocess very poor judgment. In The Western countries highway driving all drivers must pass The test. In SL any Monkey can drive on expressways!!

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Cassie Thursday, 14 August 2025 06:44 AM

Promote? If it is the law then the public better start following it. If they don't understand how wearing the seat belt is a benefit to them then they should not be allowed inside a vehicle to begin with.

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Treehorse Thursday, 14 August 2025 08:07 AM

It is a commendable initiative to raise awareness on this matter. However, given that most vehicles often carry more passengers than their rear seats are designed for - for example, a child sitting on an adult’s lap. Are the seat belt regulations truly practical for our economic realities? Furthermore, could such regulations reduce traffic on the highways, thereby impacting the government’s much-needed revenue?

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Dr. Dee esquire Thursday, 14 August 2025 08:19 AM

Wearing seatbelts is for one’s own safety. Our people are so big headed they will only realize the value of wearing them when their own child goes through the front windshield all the way from the backseat in a frontal collision or break their tiny necks in a rear end collision!

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Ravi K Thursday, 14 August 2025 08:28 AM

So many people are losing their lives everyday in accidents and so little done so far but it’s a good starting point. The speed limits must reduced to 30mph for all build up arrears and this should become compulsory with heavy penalties as well

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FredSnR Thursday, 14 August 2025 09:00 AM

Yes rule, penalty if rules are breached, nothing to promote just inform the public and give a date for implementation, double the fine if speeding

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Fernando Thursday, 14 August 2025 09:07 AM

Not just seat belts, educate them to keep a safe distance when changing lanes. Most of the drivers keep cutting on to the left lane right in front of another vehicle immediately after overtaking.

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Yohan Thursday, 14 August 2025 09:15 AM

At the same time make seat belts available locally at an affordable rate as may van users seems to be struggling to find seat belts.

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Angna Kouross Thursday, 14 August 2025 11:13 AM

Good point, but until you get your vehicle toll-road worthy, use the normal road.

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Angna Kouross Thursday, 14 August 2025 09:26 AM

We are so intelligent as a nation that 'mundane' common sense has to be taught!

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G. B. S. Hewarala Thursday, 14 August 2025 06:26 PM

Seat belts are obviously important, however even more than the seat belts, it'll be extremely important to set up a minimum speed limit. Last time when I visited Sri Lanka, I had a driver going ahead of me at about 20 km/h in Kurunegala to Mirigama highway, luckily there were no that many vehicles that day, so I was safe, though it was still a near miss. If a minimum speed limit has already been determined and published, great, otherwise, please do that asap. At least 45 km/h could be a less dangerous minimum speed.

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