Drug test kits for police use within three months

The number of daily deaths from road accidents exceeds the war period. The Sri Lanka Police is preparing to use specialized test kits to instantly identify drivers operating vehicles under the influence of drugs within the next two to three months. Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya states that drugs have been identified as a major cause of serious road accidents, and steps are being taken to purchase the relevant test kits to curb this situation.

While arresting drunk drivers was the main focus of law enforcement in the past, driving under the influence of drugs is now increasingly causing serious accidents. Although police officers can test for alcohol consumption on the spot, medical examinations are required to confirm drug use, making these tests mandatory for drivers involved in serious accidents. In a pilot project targeting buses in the Colombo city area, it was confirmed that over 5% of the bus drivers tested were driving under the influence of drugs.

The Inspector General of Police points out that the number of daily deaths from road accidents in the country has exceeded the daily deaths during the LTTE war. While the average daily deaths for both sides during the war were reported as 4, currently, 7 to 10 people die daily due to road accidents. The police have so far identified 712 accident-prone locations across the island. In 2025 alone, 2,549 fatal road accidents were reported, along with 7,830 accidents resulting in serious injuries, 11,151 accidents with minor injuries, and 5,900 property damage incidents. So far in 2026, 1,849 fatal road accidents have occurred, which is an increase of 8 accidents and 16 deaths compared to the same period last year. In these accidents, pedestrians on the road and those on sidewalks are at the highest risk, followed by motorcyclists who suffer the most harm. It has also been revealed that most motorcyclists died from colliding with obstacles on the sides of the road rather than colliding with other vehicles.