The maximum fine for causing an accident by drunk driving is Rupees 150,000

Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya has instructed police officers that if an accident is caused by knowingly driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, action should be taken not only under ordinary traffic law but also under criminal law. The maximum fine for drunk driving is Rs. 25,000, and if an accident is caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, in addition to suspending the driver's license, there is also the possibility of imposing a fine of up to Rs. 150,000, stated Deputy Inspector General of Police W.P.J. of Traffic Control and Road Safety.

Senadheera stated.

These facts were revealed at a press conference held yesterday (December 29) at the Police Media Division in Suhurupaya, Battaramulla. He stated that the shortage of breathalyzer tubes for driver checks, which existed in the past, has been overcome, with 75,000 new tubes purchased by December 24, and with the expansion of these facilities, traffic inspections have been further intensified. Deputy Inspector General of Police Senadheera further stated that instructions have been given to traffic division officers to strictly enforce the law, regardless of the social standing of the individual, if they are found driving under the influence.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Senadheera pointed out that the number of fatal road accidents in the country this year has increased by 271 compared to last year, and the number of deaths has increased by 317. He also mentioned that the highest percentage of fatalities in these accidents are pedestrians and motorcyclists. Emphasizing the seriousness of drunk driving, he recalled that the driver involved in the bus accident at the Yangalmodara railway crossing in 2005, which killed 48 people, was sentenced to death in 2013.

Commenting on the road accident involving former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala, the Deputy Inspector General of Police clarified that it cannot be said that Sapugaskanda Police did not have alcohol testing tubes, and even if they didn't, they had the ability to obtain them from the nearest police station. He emphasized that due to the failure to provide a medico-legal form when the former Speaker was hospitalized at the time, it was not possible to confirm whether he was under the influence of alcohol, and that this constituted a serious dereliction of duty by the Officer-in-Charge of the Sapugaskanda Police Station and the Officer-in-Charge of the Traffic Division.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Inspector General of Police also mentioned that the 'Demerit System' for calculating points for driver offenses is scheduled to be implemented from next June. He further stated that a special traffic plan is in effect for the funeral of veteran singer Lata Walpola and for the celebrations to be held in Colombo on December 31, and that the government has already received an income of over Rs. 7 million through the 'Gov Pay' app introduced to facilitate traffic fine payments, with plans to extend this facility to the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces in the future.