A new programme has been launched under which the National Transport Medical Institute and the police will jointly conduct on-the-spot drug tests on bus drivers using mobile laboratories, the Minister of Transport and Highways said. These mobile units are capable of detecting drugs within two to three minutes, conducting up to 12 tests at a time, and issuing printed results immediately.
The Minister said the service would be provided free of charge if mayors and governors are willing to facilitate testing in their provinces, adding that the programme can be extended to any part of the country.
Emphasising the seriousness of drug-impaired driving, the Minister warned that driving a bus under the influence of drugs is equivalent to driving a bus with a suicide bomber. He stated that both the legal framework and practical measures related to this initiative will be fully implemented from today.
The Minister further informed Parliament today (08) that strict laws will now be enforced against motorists who drive under the influence of any drug, not only alcohol. He noted that until now, legal action could only be taken against drivers who were under the influence of alcohol, due to the absence of proper regulations to test for drugs.
These remarks were made while presenting the Motor Vehicles Drugs Regulations series to Parliament for approval under the Motor Vehicles Act.
While introducing the regulations, the Minister stated that Sections 151 and 203 of the Motor Vehicles Act clearly prohibit driving a vehicle on a highway after consuming alcohol or drugs. However, he explained that although the Act mentioned drugs, it previously lacked regulations on testing methods, procedures, and acceptable drug levels in the body.
He described this gap as a major failure of successive governments, pointing out that although drug abuse has long been a serious issue in Sri Lanka, there was no proper system in place to detect drug use among drivers.
Using the powers granted under Section 37 read with Section 151 of the Act, and with the assistance of ministry officials, the Minister said he had promulgated the Motor Vehicles Drugs Regulations No. 01 of 2025, published in Gazette Notification No. 2452/40 dated September 04, 2025. These regulations are now being presented to Parliament for approval.
Under the new regulations, police officers are authorised to produce a person before a government medical officer or a hospital-authorised officer if there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is driving under the influence of drugs. Police are also legally empowered to obtain blood, urine, or saliva samples from the suspect for testing.
“If it is proven that the person has used drugs, the matter can be referred to court, and legal action can be taken,” the Minister said.
The Minister also noted that drug testing is complex and was previously limited, but this challenge has been partly resolved with the support of the Ministry of Health. Several mobile laboratories installed in buses had been provided by various institutions to conduct detailed drug tests and deliver results within minutes.
He said some of these mobile laboratories had remained underutilised, prompting the government to acquire one such bus for use by the National Transport Medical Institute.
The Minister added that this new testing programme will initially focus on bus drivers, particularly at major bus stands, as part of a broader effort to improve road safety and prevent drug-related accidents across the country.
