The Supreme Court has fixed September 11 to confirm facts in a fundamental rights petition filed by the father of a student who died in a bus accident involving Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) students in Badulla in 2024.
It is reported that the petition seeks compensation, alleging that the accident violated the fundamental rights of his son and two other students who lost their lives.
The case was taken up before a three‑judge bench comprising Arjuna Obeyesekere, Dr. Sobitha Rajakaruna, and Menaka Wijesundara.
The respondents named include the Vice Chancellor of KDU, members of the Senate, and the driver of the bus, who has been directed to file objections if any.
According to the petitioner, his son was pursuing a Quantity Surveying degree and had joined a field trip to Badulla in November 2024. At Ambagaha Junction, the bus met with a fatal accident, killing three students and injuring several others.
Investigations revealed that the bus, manufactured in 1992 and registered in Sri Lanka in 2020, had a poorly maintained braking system. Technical defects prevented the driver from controlling the vehicle, leading to the tragedy. At the time, 41 passengers, including KDU students, were on board.
The petitioner argues that the accident was caused by the negligence of the respondents and requests the Court to declare a violation of fundamental rights and order suitable compensation. (Newswire)