Ten bus drivers and conductors working on private passenger buses have been arrested for using narcotics, it was reported.
The arrests were made after checks on drivers and conductors operating buses starting from the Piliyandala main bus stand and running through the town.
The inspections were carried out inside a special bus of the National Transport Medical Institute at the Piliyandala main bus stand yesterday (11 Feb).
A total of 170 drivers and conductors were tested during the operation, which was jointly conducted by the National Transport Medical Institute (Nugegoda) and Piliyandala Police over nearly five hours.
Drivers and conductors from routes No. 120 (Kesbewa–Pettah), No. 255 (Mount Lavinia–Kottawa), No. 162 (Piliyandala–Bandaragama), No. 341 (Piliyandala–Maharagama), No. 341/2 (via Karadiyana–Maharagama), No. 342 (Piliyandala–Kottawa), No. 157 (Kahapola–Piliyandala), and No. 157/1 (Piliyandala–Makandana) were tested.
The arrested suspects are to be produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court, while further investigations are being carried out by Piliyandala Police. (Newswire)