Govt. urged to temporarily close Barawakumbuka to Mattala on E01

• Lobby group claims 21.8 km stretch opened to public ignoring basic safety measures, emergency unit to counter hazards
• Requests Minister Johnston Fernando to probe who authorised such action, risking lives

The Truth Seekers Organization recently called on the Roads and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando to temporarily close the Southern Expressway (E01) stretch from Barawakumbuka to Mattala, noting that the road was unveiled for public without any essential roadway safety basics, posing a great risk to the motorists.

Convener of the organisation Attorney-at-Law Premanath C. Dolewatta in a letter sent to the Minister pointed out that the road was declared open to the general public ignoring many of the basic safety measures and emergency unit to counter any hazards in an expressway.

It was pointed out that 21.8km stretch from Barawakumbuka to Mattala was unveiled for the public use without any roadside fences, ambulance service or firefighting service, which are considered as basics for highway incident operations.

Thereby, Truth Seekers Organization called on the Minister to temporarily close the stretch of the Southern Expressway until the essential measures and services are fixed and is safe for the public to travel.

The organisation also requested the Minster to conduct a proper investigation into who authorised Roads and Highway Ministry to open the expressway without even having the basic safety measures and emergency units in place.