A specialist attached to the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Samitha Siritunga, revealed that around 30 to 35 deaths linked to accidents are being reported daily. 

According to Dr. Siritunga, around 10,000 to 12,000 fatalities in the country annually are attributed to various accidents.

He also added that while the total number of accidents and hospitalisations has reduced to a certain extent since 2019 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of hospitalisations at state hospitals are due to accidents.

Dr. Samitha Siritunga noted that according to the current trend, in the next 5 to 10 years, the number may increase by another 200,000 to 300,000.

Accordingly, he called for a coordinated programme to reverse this trend.