A school bus driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol during an inspection of a ‘Sisu Sariya’ bus conducted by the Katupotha Police Traffic Division yesterday (May 19) in Katupotha.

The suspect has been identified as a 52-year-old resident of Radaliyagoda, Katupotha.

At the time of the arrest, 16 school children and 02 mothers were traveling in the bus.

The relevant bus has also been taken into police custody, and the suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Narammala Magistrate’s Court today (May 20).

Police are continuing island-wide operations to apprehend drunk drivers and curb traffic violations in an effort to enhance road safety.

A discussion has been held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and representatives of independent groups and smaller parties elected to the Colombo Municipal Council at the recent Local  Government elections.

The meeting took place at the National People’s Power (NPP) headquarters in Pelawatta yesterday (May 19).

The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) has issued a set of general guidelines and recommendations to prevent deaths occurring in police custody and during confrontations with the police.

These have been issued to the police under General Guidelines and Recommendations No. 01 of 2025, the Commission stated.

According to investigations based on complaints received by the Commission, there have been 49 deaths in police custody and 30 deaths due to clashes with the police between January 2020 and March 31 of this year.

Accordingly, the HRCSL issued this set of guidelines and recommendations, as stated by its Chairman, former Supreme Court Judge L.T.B. Dehideniya.

He emphasized that the police should be encouraged to implement the recommendations in order to fully enforce the guidelines.