The bus involved in the tragic accident along the Ella–Wellawaya main road had been deregistered from the National Transport Commission in 2023, Deputy Transport Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said.
He noted that regulations have not yet been introduced to monitor buses used exclusively for leisure tours. The Road Development Authority, however, has taken all possible measures to minimize accidents along the route, he added.
Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Motor Traffic has visited the accident site to inspect the bus. In addition, officials from the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) and the Ministry of Transport’s Road Safety Programme are scheduled to conduct further inspections in Ella today (6).
The accident occurred near the 24th-kilometre post of the Ella–Wellawaya main road in Tangalle area, when a bus carrying a group on a leisure trip veered off the road and plunged into a precipice. Fifteen people lost their lives in the crash. (NewsWire)