Mechanical fault suspected in Ella bus tragedy

6 September 2025 06:15 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 30 Bookmark

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Initial investigations into the fatal bus accident in Ella have pointed to a possible mechanical defect, police said.

According to Police Media Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler, a technical expert from the Department of Motor Traffic had examined the wreckage and submitted a report indicating the fault.

Nevertheless, ASP Wootler noted that further inquiries are continuing to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The bus, which veered off the Ella–Wellawaya main road and plunged into a precipice on Thursday night, has since been recovered.

Officials said it will be handed over to the Government Analyst tomorrow (08) for further examination.

Comments - 30

Lankan Saturday, 06 September 2025 06:27 PM

Any way , all buses run for long journeys must be checked twice before the journey and as well as on return as well : people have overconfidence in return some time due to tiredness they do not check it but any thing could happen in long journeys so please make a law that all bus operators do this double checking specially in upcountry areas : When you send any drivers upcountry side make two drivers in the buses if it is for more six hours journeys: unfortunately we see all this from financial perspective but human lives are more than that money : making profit is ok but make sure to prioritise safety and security of propel over money making : money comes and goes but human lives don’t: Please put the health and safety issue first : now all are gone but make sure we don’t repeat all this mistakes again : we don’t want to see more of this accident: every human life must be protected:

0 15

Dr Naga Saturday, 06 September 2025 10:56 PM

HE KNOWS BRAKE NOT WORKING , BUT HE NOT STOP THE BUS , HE CONTINU DRIVE. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THEY.

1 16

Senaka Saturday, 06 September 2025 06:54 PM

Allow every Tom, Dick

0 6

Cassie Saturday, 06 September 2025 07:03 PM

Then why was the SUV driver arrested for causing the crash?

1 23

Dr Tissa Fernando Saturday, 06 September 2025 07:22 PM

Mechanical fault plus driver behaviour. Driver behaviour is not admitted as a cause because of big headed big talk Transport minister dies not want to accuse his comrades.

7 26

Bernard Saturday, 06 September 2025 07:44 PM

Cannot rule out driver's recklessness, lack of skill, lack of patience, lack of knowledge of the hill country roads etc. Every passenger knows how our drivers drive especially buses. So machanical fault could be a fraction.

0 25

Brainless experts. Saturday, 06 September 2025 08:20 PM

All the accidents that have happened and will happen are technical faults, driving under influence of alcohol

0 14

Jude Fernando Saturday, 06 September 2025 08:43 PM

Very unlikely. Most buses running on the road certainly will have mechanical faults. A YouTube video shows a fancily decorated bus with a lot of unnecessary trappings. The owner seems to have deep pockets and surely can afford to keep the bus in sound running condition

2 10

Lalith de Kauwe Saturday, 06 September 2025 09:34 PM

This a an appalling tragedy. Sadly one of many, repeated again and again. If this bus had a mechanical fault, why was it permitted to be on the road? If so, this is gross negligence manslaughter. Action must taken to prevent anymore preventable road traffic fatalities in Sri Lanka. Reckless, dangerous driving by incompetent, inexperienced, impaired drivers in vehicles unfit to be on roads that are unfit to be driven on, must be ended. What is going on?

0 9

Joshua Saturday, 06 September 2025 09:54 PM

We should appoint pacha tissa to examine the bus.

7 6

Buddika Saturday, 06 September 2025 10:55 PM

Mechanical fault and break failure can happen but it is a progressive failure. There will be a additional hand break to control the bus. Thus may be a recless driving with over confidance of the young driver.

1 13

Citizen Saturday, 06 September 2025 11:28 PM

Ha ha good joke. Look at the wreckage. From this it is impossible to say mechanical fault. Can they identify the fault ? Somebody is trying to conseale something. I strongly beleave that the SUV is the cause

14 4

Dr. Dee esquire Sunday, 07 September 2025 05:16 AM

No cure for inferiority complex!

0 1

Bernard Sunday, 07 September 2025 10:05 AM

Hi gentleman, after all it's a basic sense to shift to the lowest gear when driving down the steep. A competent driver can control the vehicle immaterial of how big it is, by shifting to first or low first gear and control the bus with the clutch. I wonder why this young fool doesn't even know this basic driving method.

1 5

Lalith de Kauwe Sunday, 07 September 2025 12:08 AM

Government must be concerned Most people who get killed or seriously injured are innocent passengers or pedestrians. Sadly, this is a long-standing problem that has got be sorted by the government. 1) There has got to be proper repair and maintenance of buses. That is the responsibility of the owners, whether the state or private. 2) There has to be better public information and empowerment of people to report dangerous driving, unfit vehicles and unrepaired roads. 3) Police has to proactively involve the community to caution against criminal transgressions by educating and advising drivers and bus owners about their civic and legal responsibilities. 4) We need constructive partnerships of all parties interested in road safety to improve the situation. We don’t need moral panic and demands for evermore draconian laws and harsh imprisonment.

0 1

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 07 September 2025 01:28 AM

Just look at how busses are being driven on roads violating all traffic rules. Appoint some volunteers to record these and send to a central police. But we know that big headed big talk Transport minister will only be happy to find any Rajapakshas causing accidents.

0 4

A Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:34 AM

Why arrest the SUav driver. SL police is such mad and idiotic bunch.

1 5

FredSnR Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:58 AM

The system is broken just like the buses.Start with the basics.That will be enough to stop this carnage on the roads. MP's Transport Minister, Heads of Transport bodies, commuters, everyone get together.Plan with existing resources which should not be an excuse And the time to start was yesterday, thanks

1 1

Indra Dasa Sunday, 07 September 2025 04:00 AM

If this is due to a mechanical fault since Owner Or Owners have a duty of care to all who were travelling in this bus, after carefully checking this vehicle's service and maintenance records ,should be charged for gross negligence manslaughter . Also action must be taken as a matter of urgency to prevent such preventable road tolls /traffic fatalities . Transport authority must implement operating procedures for all government and private sector operators and also have a system similar to operate in developed world to prevent such continue appalling tragedies on Sri Lankan roads .

0 2

Kevin Sunday, 07 September 2025 04:08 AM

You just have to drive round Colombo to see how badly the buses are driving. Last time I was in Colombo I saw a bus weave in and out of the roads like a ballet dancer. I and many others have to literally brake hard to avoid hitting him. I had foreign friends with me and they were so shocked

0 4

R Navaratnam Sunday, 07 September 2025 04:12 AM

Current administration must bring new legislation for all drivers and vehicles for the benefit of the people to prevent such painful accidents, - Very important task. Administration shall seek the advise of experts all around the world for such legislation.

0 2

Realistic Dilshan Sunday, 07 September 2025 05:37 AM

After the last accident there was a big talk president but as usual nothing done

0 3

Ylg Sunday, 07 September 2025 05:47 AM

These investigators are extremely dense. Looking at the picture of the 27 year old bus driver, driving a DISCO bus, needs to be looked into. The inexperience and arrogance is obvious. The first time he realized the breaks were low he should have pulled the hand breaks and shifted gear. Kamikazi driving, speeding, inexperience and maintenance were the cause.

0 3

Ram P Sunday, 07 September 2025 06:36 AM

Driver I hear is just 27 in age not mature enough to drive heavy vehicle. Further these young ones try to save fuel by not changing to low gear when going down, some even place the gear on neutral and control the vehicle with brakes, These drivers must be taught how to drive, to use the low gear when going down. Further I heard that this bus is deregistered. If Yes the owner must be sent to jail for life. Proving he offence is very easy

0 6

Nimal Jayamaha Sunday, 07 September 2025 07:39 AM

All these accidents are the FAULT of the POLICE POLICE and POLICE !! Why is the Police not stopping and checking the Bus drivers ? Are the drivers under the influence of drinks, drugs etc ? Do they have proper paperwork to run those busses ? Any person with a brain can see these big busses going at breakneck speed breaking all road rules. POLICE just look the other way. Hon. Minister please look into all aspects and have one Policeman with the aid of Army personel check the busses and drivers so that this does not happen again ? ENOUGH is ENOUGH !! If you only treble the fines imposed for vehicles tomorow most of these accidents will stop as long as the POLICE do their job properly.

0 5

Dilakshan Senevirathne Sunday, 07 September 2025 07:26 PM

No no, Rajapakshas are at fault for making unsafe roads so automatically anyone is motivated to speeding. Namal should be arrested for this .

0 0

Mohan Sunday, 07 September 2025 08:05 AM

Do the buses in SL (Tata, Leyland) have parking brake like in cars? Did the bus driver shift gears to apply engine braking? If not, there is a training issue which we need to address when giving driving license. If there is no parking or any other emergency brake in our buses, we need to address that. Could the continuous driving on declining roads starting from Nuwara Eliya contributed to the brake failure? The government should appoint a committee to look into these and prevent accidents like this in the future.

0 2

Kalubanda Sunday, 07 September 2025 08:38 AM

When you see the way the drivers abuse these busses, of course they will have mechanical faults

0 4

Ram Sunday, 07 September 2025 02:55 PM

Police should examine the body condition of bus and lorry drivers randamly and also should check for drunken and drug addit drivers. This will reduce 70 % of the road accidents

0 0

Lkf Sunday, 07 September 2025 03:28 PM

Every District should have premises for yearly inspection of buses. Tyres ( new thread depth ) pedal brakes and hand brakes, break oil, clutch oil engine oil. Allignment and lights are far more important. Busses not over 15 years old, smaller busses, 60 passengers on hill country roads. Checking on drivers conditions and review of licence. Faults what ever has to be corrected and permission to drive , thereafter.Faults and defects being informed orelevant insuarance.Driving without insuarance, any bus will be prohibited to run.

0 1

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