Demand for Stricter RegulationsAfter Fatal Crash

The tragic bus accident in Thorayaya on the Kurunegala-Dambulla road, which claimed four lives and left thirty-three others injured, has reignited public outrage over reckless driving and the lack of accountability among bus drivers in Sri Lanka.

The accident occurred at approximately 4:50 AM when a private bus traveling from Maduruwoya to Colombo collided with a stationary bus that had stopped to pick up passengers. According to police investigations, the moving bus was exceeding a speed of 90 km/h when the driver, who was engaged in a mobile phone conversation, failed to notice the halted vehicle ahead in time. Witness testimonies indicate that he attempted to brake at the last moment but was unable to prevent the collision.

The victims of the crash included:

Susanta Tennakoon (47) from Madahapola, Melsiripura

Sameera Sandaruwan Rathnayake (24) from Kumbukwewa, Thihawa

D.N.S.P. Bandaranayake (28) from Thalgodapitiya, Ibbagamuwa

H.M. Indira Neelamani (60) from Ethmankada, Melsiripura

Additionally, thirty-three passengers sustained injuries, with four in critical condition receiving treatment at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, one of whom is in the intensive care unit.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that, following the crash, the driver and conductor of the moving bus attempted to flee the scene but later surrendered to the police. Shockingly, despite the severity of the accident, bystanders reportedly hesitated to assist the injured, instead choosing to record videos and take photographs of the incident. One local resident, Mohammed Rizwan, stated that it took nearly half an hour for the injured to receive medical attention due to the lack of immediate assistance from passing vehicles.

Police investigations have identified three key factors contributing to the accident: excessive speeding, driver distraction due to mobile phone usage, and competition between buses to pick up passengers. Authorities have since arrested the driver of the Maduruwoya-Colombo bus while he was receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the crash.

Doratiyawa Police Station Chief Inspector Sujeewa Weerasekara, with support from Kurunegala Headquarters Police Station Chief Inspector Dhamma Channaka Kobbewala and other officers, has launched an in-depth investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, transport officials and lawmakers have acknowledged the pressing need for stricter regulations and enforcement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The Thorayaya  bus crash highlights ongoing issues in Sri Lanka’s public transport sector, emphasizing the necessity of addressing reckless driving, enforcing stricter traffic laws, and ensuring passenger safety.