A pilot project was implemented in the Western Province using a special set of test equipment to identify drunken drivers.
The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board has brought five thousand (5,000) special test kits to the country under the provisions of the National Council on Road Safety. A pilot project was implemented from May 10 to July 20 by the Traffic Division of the Sri Lanka Police in the Western Province using three thousand (3,000) test kits. A number of drivers who were traced drunk driving were fined and given prison sentences. These test kits have the ability to detect six (06) types of drugs including ice, heroin, ganja, narcotic pills, etc.
After the pilot project, the remaining 1,975 test kits brought to Sri Lanka were officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Police under the patronage of the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana at the Ministry Auditorium.
The Minister who spoke there said, “The safety of the lives and property of passengers using the roads and public transport in this country is entrusted to the responsible institutions including the Sri Lanka Police”.
“Through driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the lives of a large number of passengers using public transport and roads are at great risk. Especially at the present time, it is a very dangerous situation that some drivers are tempted to use even non-traditional drugs. This causes more serious tragedies than all other accidents”.
“In order to avoid this situation, I would like to express my thanks to all the departments dedicated to the use of these special test kits. Due to the existing economic difficulties, there is difficulty in allocating finances to the Ministry for such activities in the future. Therefore, I hope Sri Lanka Police will allocate part of the money from the traffic fines for such equipment.”
Minister of State for Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security Damayanthi Karunaratne, Commissioner of Motor Traffics Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe, Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety Malith Jayathilaka, Chairman of the National Institute of Transport Medicine Darshan Abeyratne, Traffic and Road Safety Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Indika Hapugoda and a group of officials from the institutions were present for this event.
