About 60% of bus drivers operating passenger transport services in Colombo and surrounding areas are severely addicted to drugs, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (30).
Speaking at a special Transport, Highways and Urban Development Committee meeting in the Kandy District, the minister said that 2,700 road accidents were reported in 2025, resulting in 2,700 deaths. Of those killed, about 2,000 were pedestrians, motorcyclists, and pillion riders, while 53% of the victims were men.
Investigations have shown that drivers were responsible for about half of the accidents, he said, adding that most of those drivers had consumed alcohol or illegal drugs.
The minister said bus associations had revealed that around 60% of their drivers were addicted to narcotics.
He further noted that mobile testing units inspected 53 drivers on Bastion Mawatha, of whom 10 tested positive for drug use. However, he said the actual number of drug-using drivers was likely higher, as many drivers failed to report to work the day after the inspections.
Drivers willing to seek treatment would be provided rehabilitation, while legal action would be taken against others, the minister said. He added that drivers would no longer be allowed to operate passenger transport services without undergoing proper training and obtaining a special permit. (NewsWire)