• Victims in serious medical condition transferred to Gampola Base Hospital
• Police, State authorities to conduct inquiries; President express condolences

The Ministry of Transport and Highways stated that the Government is focusing on providing necessary support to those injured, while relevant agencies are conducting investigations into the tragic bus accident in Garandiella, Ramboda, which has claimed 21 lives as of going to the print.

The tragedy is the latest in a long line of public transport accidents which has been an recurrent issue in Sri Lanka.

The horrifying accident occurred early last morning (11) when a bus veered off the road and fell into a deep ravine in the Garandiella area along the Nuwara Eliya–Gampola main road. According to Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manatunga, the death toll has risen to 21, including 16 men and five women, while 35 others were injured. He said that the Kotmale Police are conducting investigations to determine whether the accident was caused by driver negligence or a technical fault.

In response, the Government had decided to grant Rs. 1 million in compensation to the families of each victim who lost their lives in the accident. Two Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 412 helicopters had also been deployed for emergency medical transfers, including for those injured in this accident and another that occurred on 10 May in Welimada. The helicopters, dispatched from the Ratmalana Air Force Base on the instructions of the Defence Ministry Secretary, were to be used to move seriously injured patients to hospitals in Colombo for advanced treatment.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said that the bodies of all 21 victims had been brought to the District Hospital in Kotmale, while patients with minor injuries were being treated at the same hospital. Some of the more seriously injured had been transferred to the Base Hospital in Gampola, and he said that arrangements were in place to transfer patients to the Teaching Hospital in Peradeniya, if needed. "We prioritise the treatment of the injured at this moment. The relevant institutions are carrying out the necessary investigations."

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also expressed his shock and condolences over the incident, noting that the Government is concerned about the rise in road accidents across the country. He emphasised the importance of enforcing existing laws and changing driver’s attitudes, adding that a long-term road safety programme is already being developed. The President also said that all relevant hospitals have been instructed to prioritise the treatment of the injured, and that the security forces and health services have been mobilised to support the ongoing emergency response.

Last month, Parliamentary bodies and relevant ministries began to make changes to transport policy. The need to regulate the procedure for issuing fitness/roadworthy certificates for public transport buses along with the necessity of enforcing vehicle construction-related regulations were discussed at Parliament.