The committee report on the fatal road accident in the Garadi Ella area of the Kotmale Police Division on May 11 was officially handed over today.
Senior DIG Ajith Rohana presented the report to the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs. The committee was tasked with investigating the circumstances of the incident and recommending preventive measures.
Addressing a media briefing, Rohana said that the investigation found that 84 passengers, along with the driver and conductor, were on board the bus when it crashed.
The Kotmale crash claimed the lives of 22 individuals and left many others injured.
“The bus departed the Kataragama depot at 10 p.m., with a travel time of approximately 9.5 hours. However, both the driver and conductor had reported for duty at 6 p.m., resulting in a total duty period of around 13.5 hours,” Rohana said.
Investigations confirmed there were no adverse weather conditions such as mist, rain, or slippery roads at the time, while there was no oncoming traffic, he explained.
Rohana also said that assessments by experts and the Government Analyst revealed no mechanical faults or prior accidents involving the vehicle.
“The post-mortem report confirmed that the driver had no physical ailments, such as a heart attack. Additionally, reports also showed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident,” Rohana said.
Rohana said that it is likely that the driver was fatigued and fell asleep at the wheel, leading to the accident. (Newswire)