| Less number of accidents and casualties were reported during the New Year festive season this year compared to the previous year.
At the Colombo National Hospital between April 13 to 15 a total of 704 persons sought treatment due to injuries caused by accidents as against 764, recording a seven per cent drop.
Spokesperson for the National Hospital Puspha Soysa said last year there were 266 road accident victims brought to the hospital, while this year 245 road accident victims were brought in.However the number of home-related accidents showed an increase with 185 cases as against 158 while victims of violence increased from 94 to 114.
The number of other accidents such as falls too had dropped with 98 cases this time as against 121 last year.
Only two fire cracker victims were brought to the hospital, an indication that public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of fire crackers have had a positive effect, she said.
Meanwhile the deployment of policemen on main roads and main towns contributed to the reduction of road traffic offences, according to police spokesman Superintendent Prishantha Jayakody. “In Colombo city alone 400 policemen in uniform and civvies were deployed,” he said.
He also said the presence of more policemen on the roads during helped to reduce the number of street clashes.
Meanwhile, New Year celebrations were held in various parts of the country with oil anointing ceremonies being held yesterday.
Celebrations continued during the weekend with locals as well as foreigners enjoying traditional outdoor games including tug-of-war, climbing the greasy pole, kotta-pora, kanamuttiya, scraping coconuts, etc.
The auspicious time to set out to work falls tomorrow at 6. 28 a.m. One is supposed to set out clad in white facing south.
Special arrangements have been made for additional buses and trains to be available for people to travel back from their home towns. |
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