State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has instructed respective officials to carry out an immediate study of large roadside trees at risk of falling due to the prevailing wet conditions and remove any that may pose a threat to the public.
Accordingly, the officials of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and National Building Research Organization (NBRO) have been directed to coordinate with the Environmental Authority, Road Development Authority (RDA) and local authority bodies on the matter.
State Minister Tennakoon, reacting to a tragic accident in which a tree collapsed on a bus in Kollupitiya this morning (Oct. 06), issued directions to relevant officials to take immediate preventive measures and remove potential roadside trees at risk of falling.
Over a dozen people trapped inside the bus were rescued and admitted to the Colombo National Hospital in a joint effort by the fire brigade and air force personnel. However, five of them had later succumbed to injuries while receiving medical attention.
Meanwhile, on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has instructed the Transport Ministry and Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to provide financial aid up to Rs. 500,000 each to the families of those who died in the tragic accident.
