• Arrests surge from 427 in 2025 to over 2,700 in a single month
• Weekly operations at major transport hubs aim to identify drug-impaired drivers
• Cannabis, cocaine leading narcotics found in testing
• Driver attention, fatigue identification software may be trialled for inter-provincial travel 

More than 2,700 drivers were arrested for drug-related offences in January, according to the Police Traffic Management and Road Safety Division, marking a significant increase compared to the 427 arrests recorded during the entirety of 2025. 

Authorities state that the rise reflects intensified enforcement operations, expanded roadside inspections, and closer coordination with medical authorities.

Deputy Inspector General W.P.J. Senadheera, who is in charge of traffic control and road safety, said: “From January to the present, we have arrested more than 2,700 drivers for drug-related offences. In contrast, the total number of such arrests for the whole of last year was 427. The difference is primarily due to increased enforcement activity, expanded checkpoints, and targeted operations in areas with high passenger transport density.” 

He added: “We have adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards drug-impaired driving. Our priority is to ensure the safety of passengers who rely daily on public transport services. The increased numbers should be viewed in the context of stronger detection and enforcement rather than interpreted in isolation.”

Drug testing and enforcement procedures

The Police clarified that the current enforcement mechanism did not rely primarily on rapid roadside drug testing kits. Instead, suspected drivers are referred for formal medical examination. 

“We are not using rapid test kits at the moment as a standard roadside tool,” DIG Senadheera said. “When we identify a suspect driver, we directly produce the individual before a Judicial Medical Officer for proper examination. At the same time, in collaboration with the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI), we now have access to a mobile laboratory facility where urine samples can be tested scientifically and documented in accordance with legal standards.” 

He added: “The substances most frequently detected include cannabis and cocaine. In addition, we have identified cases involving heroin, crystal methamphetamine commonly known as ‘ice,’ and certain types of pharmaceutical tablets. Each case is processed under the relevant legal provisions.” 

A senior Transport Ministry official confirmed that weekly mobile inspection programmes were being conducted in major transport hubs, including Pettah, Panadura, and Moratuwa. 

“Once the inspection and testing programmes commenced in certain locations, we observed that bus operations temporarily declined, as some drivers refrained from reporting to duty,” the official said. 

“Through these checks we identified a number of drivers who were using narcotic substances. Those who test positive are processed through the legal system and, where appropriate, referred to rehabilitation in accordance with the law.” 

Officials emphasised that enforcement was being carried out in coordination with the Police, medical authorities, and regulatory bodies to ensure due process.

Strengthened regulatory oversight

The enforcement drive coincides with the implementation of the National Transport Commission (NTC) (Amendment) Act No.8 of 2025, which strengthens the regulatory authority of the NTC over inter-provincial passenger transport.

The commission’s Director General Dr. Nilan Miranda said that the amendment provided clearer powers to take action not only against drivers and conductors but also against permit holders. 

“In a recent incident in Pulmoddai, during severe weather conditions associated with Cyclone Ditwah, a bus was driven into floodwaters in a manner that posed a significant risk to passengers,” he said. 

“Following due inquiry, we cancelled the registration of the driver and the conductor at the NTC. The Police arrested the driver and produced him before court. In addition, we suspended the permit of the bus owner for one month, as the permit holder bears responsibility for ensuring compliance with safety standards.” 

A senior Transport Ministry official confirmed that criminal liability may extend beyond the driver in serious cases. 

“If a driver who is under the influence of drugs causes an accident resulting in fatalities, we will initiate criminal proceedings not only against the driver but also against the owner where negligence or failure of supervision can be established,” the official said. “Permit holders have a duty to ensure that the drivers they employ are fit to operate passenger transport vehicles. Both parties can be produced before court under the applicable law.” 

The official said that the revised framework was intended to reinforce accountability within a sector characterised by fragmented ownership and variable employment practices.

Passenger transport licence

The Ministry of Transport is introducing a passenger transport licence as part of efforts to professionalise the sector. 

“At present, the training provided to passenger transport drivers is limited in duration,” a senior official of the ministry said. “We are proposing to extend this to a structured programme lasting between seven and 10 days. Upon completion of the training, candidates will be required to sit for an examination in order to obtain the passenger transport licence.” 

He added: “In future, no individual will be permitted to transport more than 15 passengers without obtaining this specialised licence. The objective is to ensure that drivers receive instruction not only in driving skills but also in passenger safety, regulatory compliance, and responsible conduct.” 

In response to concerns expressed by private bus operators regarding the economic implications of extended training requirements, the official stated: “Some owners have indicated that during a 10-day training period, a driver may lose income amounting to approximately Rs. 35,000, and they are concerned about who should bear that cost. However, the position of the ministry is that without proper training and structured oversight, it is not acceptable to entrust the safety of dozens of passengers to an inadequately prepared driver.” 

To address labour instability, the ministry has proposed formal employment arrangements. 

“We have recommended that drivers be issued appointment letters and enrolled in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) schemes,” the official said. “If drivers are provided with stable employment conditions and social security coverage, we believe that the frequent movement from bus to bus will diminish and overall discipline within the sector will improve.”

Digital enforcement and monitoring systems

Digital enforcement mechanisms are being expanded in parallel with legislative reforms. 

Ministry of Digital Economy Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala confirmed that the GovPay digital platform had been implemented nationwide for the collection of spot fines.

“The Transport Ministry has worked closely with our ministry and the Police to roll out the GovPay system for the electronic collection of spot fines,” he said. “The implementation has now been completed across the island, including the Central Province, which was the final phase. This allows fines to be processed transparently and efficiently without reliance on cash transactions.” 

The NTC has also begun installing GPS tracking devices on inter-provincial buses. 

“We are monitoring vehicle speed and compliance with mandatory rest requirements,” the Transport Ministry official said. “Regulations require that a driver take a 30-minute rest after every four-and-a-half hours of continuous driving. The GPS system enables us to verify whether these requirements are being followed.” 

The ministry has additionally inspected rest stops used by long-distance buses. 

“When inspections were conducted, we found that toilet facilities and hygiene standards were unsatisfactory in several locations,” the official said. “We are conducting workshops with rest stop operators and have granted a six-month period for improvements. Failure to comply may result in those facilities being removed from the approved list.” 

Pilot projects are also underway to assess the feasibility of in-cabin camera systems designed to detect driver fatigue. 

“Two companies have developed systems using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify signs of driver drowsiness,” the official explained. “If the system detects that a driver is falling asleep, an alarm is triggered immediately. Due to cost considerations, such systems are currently being considered primarily for inter-provincial buses.”

Fuel sector’s GPS monitoring model

The Transport Ministry official also cited the experience of Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) as an example of sustainable digital monitoring. The Sunday Morning followed up on how the pilot project launched at the height of Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis in 2022 has evolved. 

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and CPSTL Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage stated: “The GPS tracking system installed on fuel tankers during the fuel crisis continues to operate without interruption. All tankers in the system are connected, and the platform provides real-time data on vehicle location and fuel discharge.” 

He added: “The system was implemented through a one-time payment arrangement without recurring annual subscription fees. Approximately 150–160 tankers are covered. The data feeds directly into a centralised monitoring system, allowing effective oversight.” 

Transport authorities indicated that this model demonstrated the feasibility of maintaining GPS oversight without excessive recurring expenditure.

Infrastructure and localised safety governance

Physical safety interventions are also being introduced in selected high-risk areas. 

“In certain hilly regions, we are installing roller barriers designed to redirect vehicles upon impact rather than allowing them to breach roadside edges,” a ministry official said. “These installations are costly, and in some instances private sector entities have agreed to contribute funding.” 

Strategic safety committees have been established in nine high-risk districts. 

“These committees include representatives such as MPs representing the district, the district secretary, the hospital director, and other key officials,” the official said. “They meet monthly to identify accident-prone locations, address infrastructure deficiencies, and coordinate remedial measures at district level.”

Seat belt enforcement

The Police has also strengthened seat belt enforcement. 

“Seat belts are compulsory for all passengers travelling on expressways. On other roads, we are enforcing seat belt requirements for drivers and front-seat passengers in newer vehicles, particularly those registered after 2011,” DIG Senadheera said. 

He added: “Regulations extending mandatory seat-belt use to rear-seat passengers are currently being finalised and are expected to be implemented within the next two to three months.”

Continuing oversight

The officials emphasised that the January arrest figures must be viewed within the broader context of intensified enforcement and regulatory reform. 

“Our approach combines legal reform, structured training, digital monitoring, infrastructure improvements, and coordinated enforcement,” the Transport Ministry official said. “The objective is to enhance accountability and safety standards within the public passenger transport sector and to ensure that passengers can travel with confidence.” 

The authorities indicated that sustained enforcement and consistent application of the NTC (Amendment) Act would be essential to achieving long-term improvements in road safety and sector governance.

Box

Crackdown: Bus owners cry foul

While the Government ramps up its crackdown on drug-impaired drivers, bus owners are pushing back against the Transport Ministry’s decision to cancel route permits of owners whose drivers test positive.

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne  claimed that he was the original proponent of drug testing systems years ago but argues that punishing owners for the secret addictions of their drivers is unjust.

“We are the ones who brought this proposal to catch the drug users during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government. It has been about five years now. Back then, we used breathalysers. Until then, we could only catch people for consuming arrack,” Wijeratne told The Sunday Morning.

Wijeratne argued that unlike alcohol, modern narcotics like crystal methamphetamine (ice) left no immediate physical trace that an owner could spot before handing over the keys.

“If they had drunk alcohol, at least there would be a smell. How are we supposed to look at them and know if they are drug addicts or if they are high? All we can do is have it checked. Checking is the best method.”

The LPBOA vehemently opposed the cancellation of route permits as a penalty for the owner, describing it as an unreasonable shifting of blame. Wijeratne insisted that no owner would knowingly entrust a bus to an addict due to the severe financial risks involved regarding insurance.

“Many people think that we are opposed to this testing. That is a load of rubbish. If someone drives a vehicle after taking drugs or drinking alcohol and an accident happens, the insurance doesn’t pay us. Not just us, they don’t pay anyone. They don’t even pay the third party.”

According to Wijeratne, this lack of insurance coverage means owners have a vested interest in removing addicted drivers from the fleet, regardless of Government pressure.

“The Minister doesn’t need to say anything; we are the ones who really want to get rid of these people. The Minister claims we knowingly employ these people. We don’t. If an accident happens, we can’t even claim insurance,” he stressed.

Wijeratne said the LPBOA was calling for the testing programme to be expanded, provided it remained random and targeted the driver’s license rather than the owner’s livelihood.

“They need to do this quickly and more broadly, but it has to be done randomly. That is the right way. We proposed that these people be caught, so is it right to cancel our route permits?” he questioned.