– The Transport, Highways and Urban Development Ministry has continued its islandwide crackdown on drivers using dangerous drugs, with seven individuals detected during a special operation held at the Kadawatha bus stand today (12).

The program is being carried out to improve the quality of public transport and ensure passenger safety under the national Road Safety Plan initiated by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.The latest operation was conducted based on a concept of Minister Bimal Ratnayake and forms part of ongoing measures targeting public transport drivers suspected of drug use.A total of 148 bus drivers and conductors present at the Kadawatha bus stand were tested during the morning operation. Of them, seven were confirmed to have used dangerous drugs.

The testing was carried out by a team led by Dr. Lionel Muhandiramge of the National Institute of Transport Medicine, using a mobile laboratory bus deployed for the program.Officials said the initiative is supported by the Sri Lanka Police and the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, and will continue islandwide in the coming weeks.

Dr. Muhandiramge said the main objective of the program is to build a disciplined public transport workforce free from drug use, especially in light of recent road accidents and declining road discipline.He further noted that legal action will be taken against those identified through testing, under applicable laws, and strict penalties will be enforced through the legal system.