Authorities on Thursday (5) carried out drug tests on bus drivers and conductors operating from the Bastian Mawatha long-distance bus terminal in Colombo as part of efforts to improve passenger safety and service quality in public transport.
The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in line with the government’s National Drug Prevention Week campaign.
Officials used a mobile testing unit from the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) to conduct rapid screening of drivers and bus assistants suspected of using dangerous narcotics while operating passenger transport services.
Urine samples were collected during the inspections, and the tests are capable of detecting whether individuals had used illegal drugs within the previous 14 days.
This is the second such inspection conducted at the Bastian Mawatha bus terminal this year with the support of the NTMI, the National Transport Commission and the Sri Lanka Police.
According to NTMI, each test costs the government nearly Rs. 1,000 , while the same test would cost about Rs. 5,000 if conducted through the private sector. (NewsWire)
