COLOMBO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 592 Sri Lankans have died in 565 fatal road accidents as of April 2 this year, said police on Thursday.

Deputy Inspector General of Motor Traffic and Road Safety of Sri Lanka Police Indika Hapugoda told the media that there were 594 fatal accidents, claiming 619 lives during the same period in 2024.

He also noted that April tends to record a higher number of fatal road accidents due to multiple nationwide celebrations, with 204 deaths reported during the month in 2024 alone, adding that December is another month that typically sees a spike in road fatalities for similar reasons.

Looking at annual figures, Hapugoda said 2,341 people died in 2,231 fatal road accidents in 2023, and the number rose in 2024, with 2,541 deaths recorded from 2,403 fatal accidents.

He further highlighted that 7,127 people sustained serious injuries in fatal accidents in 2024, many of whom now face long-term medical treatment or permanent disabilities.

In response to the alarming statistics, the police will launch several new initiatives this month to reduce road accidents, Hapugoda said. Enditem