Sri Lanka and Norway ministers discuss transport and reconciliation

Sri Lankan Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake met with Norwegian Transport Minister Kamzy Gunaratnam to discuss road safety, sustainable transport, and national reconciliation.

The discussions addressed the transition to greener transport and the prevention of social dumping within the transport sector. Minister Rathnayake reported that over 2,700 people died in road accidents in Sri Lanka last year, a figure Gunaratnam described as ‘heartbreaking.’

Gunaratnam, who was born in Jaffna, also emphasized the importance of social inclusion and infrastructure that helps bridge social divisions. She expressed support for reconciliation efforts in Sri Lanka, noting that effective transport policy serves to connect people across different ethnic and geographical backgrounds.