To address rising traffic congestion, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya has issued a new directive revoking an earlier circular. This decision restores the authority of police officers to manually manage traffic flow by disabling traffic lights when necessary.
The move comes after observations revealed that traffic congestion has worsened under the current system. In response, plans are underway to collaborate with the University of Moratuwa and other relevant authorities to update traffic light systems to better align with actual traffic patterns.
Investigations have highlighted that the University of Moratuwa, the Road Development Authority, and local government bodies have not adequately updated traffic light settings to reflect current conditions. It has also been confirmed that adjustments to traffic light configurations during peak and overtime hours have been insufficient.
This new measure aims to provide immediate relief to motorists while long-term upgrades to traffic management systems are implemented.
