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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 10:00:00
14 February 2024 08:53 pm - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Polonnaruwa, Feb 14 (Daily Mirror) - A bus driver responsible for a tragic accident on May 16, 2009, at the Sevanapitiya Railway Crossing in Welikanda, which claimed the lives of 15 passengers and left 40 others seriously injured, has been arrested.
Police said the Polonnaruwa High Court issued the verdict in the case, sentencing the driver to death on September 22 last year.
The driver, who last appeared before court on August 05, 2022, failed to attend subsequent hearings, leading to the issuing of warrants for his arrest.
The Welikanda Police arrested the accused today while he was avoiding courts.
The arrested individual is identified as a 39-year-old resident of Valaichchenai.
The accident occurred when a private bus carrying 70 passengers, including children from the Al-Hizma nursery in Valaichchenai and their parents, collided with a train at the railway crossing. The driver attempted to bypass the rail gate disregarding signals, resulting in the catastrophic collision.
The impact flung the bus about 200 metres away and caused a fire upon collision with the train, which was transporting fuel bowsers and passenger carriages from Gal-oya to Batticaloa. The train engine too sustained extensive damage in the collision.
Kugan Wednesday, 14 February 2024 09:38 PM
In this climax and the trend should arrest the train driver
Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 14 February 2024 10:48 PM
They are not that stupid.
Ganesh Thursday, 15 February 2024 01:12 AM
Trains have tracks and the locomotive cannot go anywhere else. It’s morons like you who think otherwise.
Gt Thursday, 15 February 2024 12:28 AM
When was rail gate installed? Was it down? How could a massive bus snake through 2 closed gates? Maybe drivers fault for not seeing train, maybe local officials for not having a proper manned barrier, easy to put blame on driver , what about gov officials/ rail dept ? Many crossings don't have barriers need to put down gates which not even a bike can get through
Tissa Fernando Thursday, 15 February 2024 01:00 AM
There are many drivers of all types of vehicles still trying to beat the train. They escape through the closed gates and also through red lights. These drivers are in a hurry to get to their destination as if they have deadlines to meet . If they are so work oriented Sri Lanka would have beaten all other countries economically but the truth is that it is stupid mentality not the efficiency.
Diesh Thursday, 15 February 2024 07:44 AM
15 Dead, 40 seriously injured.....verdict delivered after 14 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!
Amount of changes need to capture a convict? Thursday, 15 February 2024 08:16 AM
The society has forgotten this accident. It needed a change of Govt. a change of President, change of the IGP and many more changes to capture a long absconding convict in this nation. Does this show the pressure on the Police? or the relaxed mood of all departments concerned in this?
Gonston Thursday, 15 February 2024 08:30 AM
Why the driver was allowed to live with his family for 14 years after the incident? This is unbelievable
Tissa Fernando Thursday, 15 February 2024 06:36 PM
Judges cannot see the reality, they are embroiled in a world of legal loopholes and inefficiency. As no one can critisize them without being charged with contempt of court , the courts can take their own time in giving verdicts. The lawyers in the mean time make enough money for the simple appearance at Courts
Why Driver wasn’t in custody during Trial? Thursday, 15 February 2024 09:16 AM
Why wasn’t the driver in custody after the preliminary investigations indicated he was at fault? There were so many deaths
GOVERNMENT, POLICE AND HIGH COURT AND ALL OTHERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE SHOULD WE TRIED IN A COURT OF LAW FOR THE DELAY IN THIS JUDEGMENT Thursday, 15 February 2024 12:21 PM
ANOTHER BLUNDER, ACCIDENT ON 16TH MAY 2009, VERDICT ON 22ND SEPT 2023 (TOTAL 23 YRSM 4 MTHS AND 6 DAYS FOR A VERDICT). DRIVER WAS OBVIOUSLY OUT LIVING HIS LIFE, THEN REPORTED TO COURT IN 2022!!! JUST SHOWS HOW THE POLICE AND COURT SYSTEM OPERATES. FAMILIES OF DEAD AND INJURED SHOWN DISRESPECT, WHICH THE DRIVER IS OUT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND BARS UNTIL VERDICT WAS GIVEN.
NV Jen Thursday, 15 February 2024 12:38 PM
What justice system is this? 14 years after the tragedy, still the court is inquiring on a clear cut willful violation by the bus driver? Won't be surprised if he is still driving public transport buses with fake driving license.
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