State Minister of Defence, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, has issued a directive to authorities to urgently address the risk posed by trees along roads that are in danger of collapsing.
In response to an incident this morning in Kollupitiya, where a tree fell on a bus, the Minister said that immediate action would be taken in collaboration with the Environment Authority, Road Development Authority, and relevant local bodies.
The objective is to assess the stability of large trees located near roads, especially in light of the current rainy weather.
The State Minister has instructed the Disaster Management Center and the National Building Research Organization to remove any potential threats to public safety.
In recent days, numerous trees have toppled due to adverse weather conditions, culminating in a tragic incident in Kollupitiya today, where five lives were lost when a tree fell onto a moving passenger bus.
