An investigation report by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has recommended holding the Kataragama Depot and the Road Development Authority (RDA) accountable for the tragic bus accident in Garandi Ella, Kotmale, which killed 23 passengers and injured 60.
Although the report states that the main reason behind the accident was the driver momentarily falling asleep on the wheel due to lack of rest, it emphasises that the driver was not solely responsible.
The 06-member committee of motor vehicle inspectors appointed by the Department of Motor Traffic in this regard, submitted its report to the Ministry of Transport on May 27.
The committee report revealed that substandard repairs by the Kataragama depot in 2023 – done without skilled technicians and using old materials – significantly contributed to the accident’s severity, as many frame pillars near the floor had rotted, weakening the overall structural integrity of the bus.
The committee report also states that after 2022, two wooden shops were permitted on either side of the accident site – within the RDA’s jurisdiction – and that the shop owners had removed trees and leveled mounds of earth at the location, which contributed to the bus overturning.
The committee has also recommended that these matters be investigated.
(Source: Aruna)
