Bus set on fire in Mathurata

17 April 2012 01:19 pm

A bus estimated at Rs.4 million belonging to the brother-in-law of Private Bus Industries Minister C.B. Ratnayake was set on fire in Mathurata, Kandy by a group of men, police said.

No suspects have been arrested so far but the police stated it was widely believed that a personal dispute may have led to the incident.

A complaint was lodged by the owner soon after the incident as the bus had sustained extensive damages.

In mid-march, two buses estimated at Rs.8.4 million belonging to Central Provincial Council Chairman and Minister S. B. Dissanayake’s brother Saliya Dissanayake were set on fire by an unidentified group at his Madanwala residence.

Police said rivalries between private bus operators are a known fact and so they end up in clashes. The rivalries are mainly due to issues related to route permits. (SD)