A group of plantation workers staged a protest today (13) on the Thalawakale–Nuwara Eliya main road at Radella, demanding the reopening of a critical shortcut between Nanuoya and Radella, which has remained closed to heavy vehicles since early 2023.
The demonstrators, drawn from five surrounding estates, voiced frustration over the continued closure of the road segment—believed to be the only one in the country closed to buses and lorries due to a traffic accident.
The road was shut down after a serious bus crash in January 2023, prompting authorities to prohibit the movement of all heavy vehicles, including public buses.
Protestors say the ongoing closure has severely disrupted daily life for more than 3,500 residents, many of whom rely on public transport to access schools, hospitals, and workplaces in nearby towns.
“This road connects two main government schools and five estates. Without buses, schoolchildren, teachers, and patients have been left stranded or forced to pay high three-wheeler fares,” one resident said.
With no regular bus service, residents now depend largely on costly three-wheelers or infrequent luxury buses, which protestors say are unaffordable and fail to stop in many local areas.
They urged the government to take immediate steps to allow at least small-sized buses to operate on the road, due to growing financial strain and lack of basic transport options.
Leave a comment