Road Traffic Injuries Research Network Secretariat Launch, January 4,2006. Kandy , Sri Lanka .
The township of Gannoruwa in Kandy City , Sri Lanka was host to the Road Traffic Injuries Research Network’s launch of its Secretariat hosted by the University of Peradeniya on January 4, 2006. The establishment of a Secretariat in Sri Lanka marks an important milestone for the network’s growth and evidence of its continued commitment to building research capacity in LMICs.
The Secretariat Launch was attended by more than 100 attendees including senior policy makers and international delegates from the World Health Organization, Global Forum for Health Research and other NGOs. In addition to participation of the NGO sector and policy makers, there was a strong regional presence of road traffic injury researchers from Australia , New Zealand , Pakistan , India , Nepal , Malaysia , Thailand , and Vietnam . The Chief Guest at this occasion was the Attorney General of Sri Lanka, Mr. K.C. Kamalasabayson, who emphasized the gravity of road traffic injuries in LMICs and challenged participants to collaborate with partners outside the health sector-including legal and transport to reduce the burden of RTIs worldwide. “Road traffic collisions are not accidents, and when drivers’ negligence causes death and undue injuries to victims, drivers must be prosecuted for these crimes under the legal system” said the Attorney General. Kamalasabayson also spoke of how Sri Lanka recently set a precedent in the region by bringing murder charges against a negligent driver. Other speakers at the Launch included the Mayor of Kandy Hon. Kesera Senanayake, the Acting Sri Lanka Country Representative of the World Health Organization Dr. S. Puri the Chair of the Foundation Council of the Global Forum for Health Research Dr. Pramilla Senanayake and members of the RTIRN Board.