Over 5,000 drunk drivers arrested in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Over 5000 drivers have been arrested in Sri Lanka over the last three weeks after police launched a special island-wide operation to nab drunk drivers since July 5, police said in a statement here Wednesday.

A total of 5,042 drivers were arrested from across the country till Wednesday afternoon, in the special operations which will end on Aug. 5.

Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the drunk drivers would be fined 25,000 Sri Lankan rupees (about 142.94 U.S. dollars) and police officers who arrest the drunk drivers will also be rewarded.

Road accidents claimed over 3,000 lives in Sri Lanka last year.