Sri Lankan authorities have identified 712 accident-prone locations across the country following a nationwide survey conducted in response to the rising number of serious road accidents, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya said.
He said Sri Lanka continues to record more than 2,500 fatal road accidents annually, with 2,549 fatal accidents reported in 2025.
According to the IGP, 2025 also saw 7,830 accidents involving serious injuries, more than 10,050 causing minor injuries and nearly 5,900 accidents resulting in property damage.
He said 1,849 fatal accidents have been recorded so far in 2026. Compared with the same period last year, the number of fatal accidents has increased by eight, while the number of deaths has risen by 16.
Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable group, with many being killed while standing by the roadside or using roads for various purposes, the IGP said.
Motorcyclists are the second most vulnerable group. He noted that an increasing number of motorcyclists are dying after crashing into roadside obstacles rather than in collisions with other vehicles.
Pillion riders and cyclists have also recorded a significant number of deaths, with 199 and 195 fatalities respectively during the period under review.
The IGP said three-wheelers are also frequently involved in accidents, with 3,515 accidents involving three-wheelers recorded recently. He noted that motorcycles and three-wheelers account for a large proportion of vehicles on Sri Lankan roads.
Meanwhile, the Police have identified a shift in the causes of fatal accidents, with driving under the influence of narcotics emerging as a major concern alongside drunk driving.
IGP Weerasuriya said that unlike alcohol use, which can often be detected by police officers at the scene, suspected narcotics use requires medical testing. Police have therefore made drug testing mandatory for drivers involved in serious accidents.
He said the Police Department is also procuring specialised drug-testing kits, with a new testing method expected to be introduced within the next two to three months.
A recent pilot operation targeting buses in and around Colombo found that more than 105 bus drivers had been operating vehicles under the influence of narcotics, the IGP said.
He added that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, speeding and violations of traffic laws remain among the major factors contributing to fatal road accidents in Sri Lanka.
