The driver of the SUV that had collided with the bus in Ella prior to it toppling into a precipice has been taken into custody in connection with the accident.
The Police said the driver of the SUV had been arrested on charges of negligence and failure to prevent the accident.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Ruwan Senarath, states that 13 employees of the Tangalle Urban Council have died in the Ella bus accident on Thursday.
The Deputy Minister said that 15 persons, including the Tangalle Urban Council Secretary, 12 UC employees, two children, and the driver of the bus, are reported dead.
Ruwan Senarath further said that a female is reported missing, as of now.
Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has deployed an MI-17 helicopter at SLAF CTS Diyatalawa and a Bell 412 helicopter at SLAF Station Weerawila, both on standby to assist operations related to the bus accident.
The SLAF states that these air assets remain ready to airlift patients to Colombo or to support any required rescue operations.
A bus travelling towards Wellawaya had collided with a jeep and toppled into a 1000-foot precipice, killing 15 persons and injuring 18 others last night.
Around 30 people had been on board the bus at the time of the accident, while 06 men and 09 women had died in the incident.
The injured persons, comprising 6 men, 5 women, 3 male children, and 2 female children, have been admitted to the Badulla Hospital.
The accident occurred when the group was travelling from Tangalle to Ella on a leisure tour and was returning home.
The Ella Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)