President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the Director General of the Mahaweli Authority, Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana to take immediate steps to construct a security fence on the side of the Viyana Canal on the Badulla-Mahiyangana main road, for the safety of the vehicles and passengers.

The road which runs parallel to Viyana canal is 13 Km long and 8 Km of it belongs to Mahaweli Authority while the other 5 km belongs to the Road Development Authority (RDA).

Erecting the security fence which is of 5 km out of the 8 km property belonging to Mahaweli Authority was completed in 2017.

Considering the reports on frequent road accidents in the other part of the road, the President has advised to finish the remaining constructions as early as possible, the President’s Media Division said.

The President has taken quick action to offer estimated amount of 26.5 million rupees.

The President has advised the Road Development Authority (RDA) to accelerate the construction work of the security fence in remaining insecure road areas under RDA.

The lack of a fence along that stretch of road has led to a number of road accidents where vehicles have veered off the road and plunged into the canal with some of them even resulting in fatalities. 

The decision comes just hours after another accident was reported in the area. 

An SUV toppled into the Viyana Canal in Mahiyanganaya off Mahiyanganaya- Badulla main road yesterday (26) while the vehicle’s 34-year-old driver is still unaccounted for. 

The car was recovered by the Police and residents a few meters away from where it toppled, however the driver had gone missing and is feared dead.

Similar accidents have continued to occur in the area with residents blaming the frequent incindets to the absence of a fence to prevent vehicles from falling into the canal.