According to W.P.J. Seneviratne, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, legal action has been initiated against 4,750 drivers over the past four months for operating vehicles under the influence of narcotic substances. He emphasized that this figure marks a significant increase compared to previous years, indicating a growing trend that authorities are struggling to contain.
Police say the surge has prompted intensified enforcement across the country. Special attention is being given to drivers involved in passenger transport, who pose a higher risk to public safety when impaired.
To strengthen detection efforts, continuous operations are being carried out using the mobile laboratory of the National Transport Medical Institute. These mobile units enable on-the-spot testing, allowing authorities to identify and take immediate legal action against offenders.
Officials warn that drug-impaired driving not only endangers the driver but also passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. Authorities have pledged to expand monitoring and enforcement measures in the coming months as part of a broader push to improve road safety nationwide.
