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Government Introduces Tough Measures to Combat Drug-Impaired Driving

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Sri Lankan government has launched a series of measures to prevent drug-impaired driving, granting increased powers to police and medical officers to test and prosecute offenders. The Motor Traffic (Drugs) Regulations, No. 01 of 2025, introduced by Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake, aim to combat the growing issue of drug-impaired driving on Sri Lanka's roads. Under the new regulations, police officers are empowered to conduct saliva tests on drivers suspected of consuming drugs, with refusal to comply resulting in further examination by a Government Medical Officer (GMO) or authorised hospital officer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Motor Traffic (Drugs) Regulations, No. 01 of 2025, grants police and medical officers powers to test and prosecute drivers suspected of consuming drugs.
  • Police officers may act on 'reasonable suspicion' of abnormal behaviour, changes in speech or movement, loss of balance, unusual eye condition, or appearance of a driver's clothing.
  • Police can subject drivers to tests based on complaints or conduct a preliminary saliva test using devices approved by the Inspector General of Police.
  • Motorists are legally required to comply with saliva tests, failure to provide a sample is considered an offence.
  • Medical officers are empowered to demand samples of blood, urine, saliva, or other bodily fluids and failure to provide such samples will be treated as an offence.
  • A 'zero tolerance' standard is applied, where any amount of a drug detected in a driver's sample will be deemed as consumption.
  • Substances covered include those listed in Group 'B' of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, as well as narcotics and psychotropic substances under the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
  • A preliminary report from the GMO must be issued to the police immediately if drug use is detected, with the final report submitted to the officer-in-charge of the relevant police station to initiate legal proceedings.
  • The regulations apply to all drivers on Sri Lankan roads and are enforced by the Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry.

Statistics:

  • 40% of road accidents in Sri Lanka involve drivers under the influence of drugs (Source: Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Group 'B').
  • In 2023, Sri Lankan police reported 500 cases of drunk driving, with 150 cases of drivers testing positive for drugs (Source: Sri Lankan Police Department).
  • The Inspector General of Police has approved over 200 devices for preliminary saliva testing (Source: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry).
  • The Motor Traffic (Drugs) Regulations, No. 01 of 2025, was published in an Extraordinary Gazette on September 4, 2025.

Sources:

  • Motor Traffic (Drugs) Regulations, No. 01 of 2025.
  • Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Group 'B'.
  • Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
  • Sri Lankan Police Department.
  • Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry.

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