Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa of the Badulla General Hospital has strongly criticized the new roadblock erected at the site of the Ella-Wellawaya tragedy, warning that it could worsen accidents rather than prevent them.
He pointed out that the construction, built to stop vehicles from falling into the precipice, will instead act like a ramp, hurling buses and cars further down the abyss. In his remarks, he suggested that such poorly thought-out measures could turn deadly crashes into even more catastrophic disasters.
The Ella accident still haunts the nation, when a bus plunged into the depths of the ravine, killing a large number of passengers. Referring to that horrific incident, Dr. Rajapaksa described his concerns in a social media post that has since gone viral:
“The Ella accident..
I tried to forget.
Because ..
I have many unpleasant experiences with me.
But this picture …
This is a barrier that has been put there..
I know the precipice below very well..
If a vehicle hits this bump..
It will fly away..
It will fly down thousands of feet more..
..If you put some mattresses below, the job is done..
.😭 Today I saw a picture of a person suffering from diarrhea..
😢 These are not brains, but the ship that brought the brains..
…….Vaidya Palitha ……”
His remarks have triggered debate across social media, with critics calling the barrier a dangerous design flaw. Many argue that road safety at Ella requires scientific planning, not cosmetic measures.
