A passenger bus plunged into the Talagala stream yesterday (8) morning when a section of the Nuwara Eliya bus terminal collapsed. Bus operators attributed the incident to a delay in repairing a nearby bridge and a retaining wall damaged by Cyclone Ditwah late last year.

While there were no casualties, the bus sustained severe damage in the incident.

Speaking on the matter, Ramya Sudath Gadallage, President of the Nuwara Eliya Private Bus Owners’ Association, accused the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and relevant authorities of failing to properly reconstruct the site for over six months, leading to this mishap.

He stated that between 7,000 and 15,000 people, including schoolchildren, travelled through the unsafe area daily. He added that bus operators have been compelled to use the location as there is no other alternative terminal available. He accused the authorities of shifting blame to one another instead of taking any initiative to reconstruct the bridge.

Meanwhile, Nuwara Eliya Mayor Upali Wanigasekara, who visited the site to inspect the damage, told the media that all necessary arrangements had already been made to repair the bridge at the bus terminal.

By S.K. Samaranayake

The schedule for the 2026 Kandy Esala Maha Perahera, the country’s most historic and prestigious cultural pageant, was finalised following a high level discussion held yesterday (July 8) at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The meeting was attended by the Maha Sangha, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, and Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta.

The traditional planting of the ‘Kap’ (Kap Situweema) at the four main Devalas (shrines) is scheduled to take place at an auspicious time on the morning of August 13.

Following the Kap Situweema, the first Kumbal Perahera will commence on August 18 and will parade through the streets of Kandy until August 22.

The first Randoli Perahera is set to parade on the night of August 23. This will be followed by the final Randoli Perahera, which is scheduled for the night of August 27.

The festival will then conclude with the Day Perahera on August 28. Following this final procession, the Diyawadana Nilame, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, will present the ‘Perahera Sandeshaya’ (the formal message confirming the successful completion of the pageant) to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the President’s House in Kandy, strictly following ancient traditions.

By S.K. Samaranayake

Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake on Tuesday (7) said that the government would introduce a cluster bus company system to improve public transportation, adding that Cabinet approval for the initiative had been granted.

The Minister said so while chairing the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development in Parliament.

He said that the scheme would initially be implemented as a pilot project on bus routes 177, 170 and 190.

The Minister said that the previous four categories of bus services; normal, semi-luxury, luxury and super-luxury had been streamlined by removing the semi-luxury and super-luxury categories. Referring to the Semi-Luxury category, the Minister stated that a related court case is currently pending and that the relevant facts will be presented before the court.

Minister Rathnayake pointed out that it was not equitable to apply a single fare formula to both long-distance and short-distance bus services. Given the higher operating costs associated with long-distance services, a separate methodology would be introduced to determine fares for long-distance buses. He emphasised that the Government is committed to safeguarding both the bus industry and passengers.

The Chair of the Committee also sought clarification from officials on whether bus fares could be reduced following recent fuel price decreases. Officials explained that although fuel prices have declined, other operating costs remain high, limiting the scope for fare reductions.