September 12 (Citizen.lk News) - The owner of the bus involved in the recent Ella tragedy, which killed 15 people and seriously injured many others, spent more on decorating the bus than its actual value, but had not properly maintained it, Nuwara Eliya District Chief Motor Vehicle Inspector Jaliya Bandara said.
During the investigation, the bus owner revealed that he purchased the vehicle for Rs. 5.5 million but spent around Rs. 7 million on decorations. He explained that the investment was due to high demand for visually appealing buses used for recreational trips.
However, Bandara said inspections revealed that despite the elaborate decorations, the bus had not been properly maintained. A grease leak had developed in the rear hub of the brake system, which, on steep roads with continuous braking, could cause the brakes to fail due to overheating of the wheel drums.
The Chief Motor Vehicle Inspector urged the public to carefully check the safety of vehicles before trips, including proper maintenance and the driver’s habits, to avoid similar tragedies.
