Lorry driver in Kuliyapitiya accident remanded

BY Dinesh Upendra  

The lorry driver involved in the fatal accident at  Kuliyapitiya on Wednesday (27) was produced yesterday before  Kuliyapitiya Magistrate Randika Lakmal Jayalath and remanded till  September 08.  

The driver of a van transporting schoolchildren and two  schoolgirls on board had died in the accident. The suspect driver of the  tipper lorry Warnakulasuriya Susantha Nimesh Fernando (23), was a  resident of Marawila.   

Police told court that the accident was owing to the haphazard  driving of the suspect despite the utmost attempts of the van driver to  avoid the collision. They further submitted that it was yet to be  established whether it was an accident or a wilful act of the suspect.   

Attorney at Law Udeni Disanayaka, appearing for the  aggrieved party, told court that the accident was a tragic incident that  resulted in widespread concern across the country. She submitted  that the lorry had been running at excessive speed during peak-hour traffic.  

The magistrate remanded the suspect driver and suspended his driving licence pending further investigations.