The Ministry of Health has handed over another fully equipped mobile drug and alcohol testing bus to the National Institute of Transport Medicine as part of efforts to strengthen the safety of public transport services across the country.
The bus was officially handed over to the Chairman of the National Institute of Transport Medicine, Professor Clifford Perera, by Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa at a ceremony held at the Ministry premises.
The initiative is being implemented in coordination with the National Road Safety Programme of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and is expected to be further expanded under the Government’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan.
The mobile testing programme conducts random drug tests on drivers, conductors and assistants of public transport services while they are on duty. The programme is currently operating in five provinces, with plans to expand it to other parts of the country as additional resources become available.
Authorities said a total of 7,150 tests have been conducted so far under the nationwide random drug testing programme.
