Sri Lanka, April 14 -- Health authorities have urged parents and elders to pay extra attention to children to minimise accidents during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season.

Dr. Deepal Perera, a specialist at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), said that annually, the number of accidents involving children increases sharply during the New Year holiday period. A large number of children are hospitalized during the festive period owing to firecracker-related incidents and road accidents, he added.

Dr. Perera, therefore, said parents and guardians must be on alert at all times. He also highlighted the increase in the number of road accidents due to drunk-driving, which is a serious concern, especially during New Year ho...