Ill-fated bus in Ella Owner spent more on bus modifications than purchase price

By Ranjith Rajapakse

The ill-fated bus that was involved in the fatal accident had been lavishly modified at a cost exceeding its original purchase price, officials revealed yesterday.

Nuwara Eliya District Chief Motor Vehicle Examiner Jaliya Bandara said that, during interrogation, the current owner disclosed he bought the vehicle from its previous owner for Rs. 5.5 million, but had subsequently spent around Rs. 7 million on extra fittings and cosmetic upgrades to make it more appealing for pleasure tours.  

According to the examiner, the owner admitted there was a rising demand among those hiring buses for private excursions that displayed an “attractive appearance,” prompting him to invest heavily in beautifying the vehicle.

Bandara further noted that investigators found the braking system had been compromised by a grease leak in the rear hub. He warned that repeatedly applying brakes while descending steep gradients could cause excessive heating of the brake drums, heightening the risk of mechanical failure.