The government will launch a national programme to ensure safety in public transport 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, the minister said the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport and the Sri Lanka Police are jointly implementing a nationwide plan to test drivers suspected of drug use and strengthen road safety.
He said the transport sector is facing a serious crisis due to alcohol and drug use, adding that eliminating drug-impaired driving is essential to ensure passenger safety. Rathnayake noted that police now have legal authority to conduct random drug tests on drivers and transport staff.
Mobile laboratory testing was launched in Colombo this week, with initial tests showing 10 out of 59 drivers tested had used drugs, which he described as a serious and alarming situation.
Rathnayake said drug use among transport workers not only endangers passengers but also harms their families, the economy and society. He urged bus owners and associations to remove drug-using staff and recruit trained, physically fit personnel to maintain professional standards in the industry.
He also said road accidents claimed more than 2,700 lives in 2025, with pedestrians and motorcyclists accounting for nearly 1,800 deaths, highlighting the urgent need for improved transport safety.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said road accidents kill seven to eight people daily in Sri Lanka and a national accident prevention programme will be implemented in 2026. He said 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 testing, and amend laws if necessary to enforce strict action against drug-impaired driving.
The government’s national drug prevention programme aims to create a disciplined and professional transport workforce and ensure safer public transport for commuters, the ministers said. (Newswire)