Govt Unveils Sweeping Road Safety and Drug Crackdown Plan

The government has announced a nationwide programme to improve public transport safety and crack down on drug use among bus drivers and conductors, Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake said.

Speaking at a special media briefing, Rathnayake said the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and the Sri Lanka Police are jointly implementing the initiative, which includes testing drivers suspected of drug use and strengthening overall road safety measures.

He said the transport sector is facing a serious crisis due to alcohol and drug abuse, stressing that eliminating drug-impaired driving is essential to ensure passenger safety. Rathnayake noted that police now have the legal authority to conduct random drug tests on drivers and transport staff.

Mobile laboratory testing was launched in Colombo this week, with initial results revealing that 10 out of 59 drivers tested had used drugs. The minister described the findings as serious and alarming.

Rathnayake said drug use among transport workers not only endangers passengers but also negatively affects their families, the economy, and society as a whole. He urged bus owners and transport associations to remove drug-using staff and recruit properly trained, physically fit personnel to uphold professional standards in the industry.

He also revealed that more than 2,700 people were killed in road accidents in 2025, with pedestrians and motorcyclists accounting for nearly 1,800 of those deaths, highlighting the urgent need for improved transport safety.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said road accidents claim seven to eight lives daily in Sri Lanka and confirmed that a national accident prevention programme will be launched in 2026. He added that 480 drivers were arrested for drug use during the first 22 days of 2026, while 135 accidents were reported during the same period.

Wijepala said the government will strengthen testing methods, including saliva-based drug tests, and amend laws if necessary to enforce strict action against drug-impaired driving.

The ministers said the government’s national drug prevention programme aims to build a disciplined, professional transport workforce and ensure safer public transport for commuters.