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3-hour traffic jam at Kelaniya bridges Thousands of people were stranded on the road for hours yesterday as a result of strict security screening of all vehicles entering the Colombo city, Police said. The worst traffic pile-up was experienced at the entry point to Colombo at the new and old Kelaniya bridges where all traffic coming along the Negombo and Kandy roads were checked carefully.
Police officers at the checkpoint said they were checking all vehicles to prevent arms or explosives from being smuggled into the city. Several bus passengers were seen alighting and walking to Colombo. A passenger who was coming from the Katunayake airport complained that it took five hours for him to reach Colombo. The long bumper-to-bumper vhecile queue on the Negombo Road extended from the Kelaniya bridge to beyond Mabola on the Negombo Road while the traffic jam on the Kandy Road extended upto Weliveriya, The Sunday Times learns. Divers who took the Elakanda-Mattakkuliya bridge to avoid the Negombo Road traffic said their vehicles were subjected to search at the entrance to the bridge. Thorough security checking was also conducted at Talangama, Malabe, Moratuwa and Katubedda junction and several other places in Colombo. As a result of the traffic congestion several minor accidents were also reported. By evening vehicles going out of Colombo were also caught up in the traffic jam as incoming traffic had spread to the lanes meant for outgoing traffic. Many of the private bus operators also kept away by evening leaving thousands of passengers stranded in the Pettah. Heavy rains also affected the traffic flow. Police said that the security operations may continue for the next few days in view of the adverse security situation. | ||||
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