A bus owned by the Sri Lanka Transport Board parked at the Central Bus Station complex in the outskirts of Colombo was stolen and later recovered abandoned in Peliyagoda area. Investigation revealed that when the bus was recovered, all the diesel had been removed from it.
The bus plying from Vavuniya to Nochiagama stopped at Colombo Central Bus Station to return to Vavuniya. The Pettah police and the investigating officers of the bus station are conducting further investigations into the incident.
The theft of a government bus used for public transportation has drawn attention. Investigations are on as to how the bus was taken, who took it and why the diesel was removed.
A bus that disappeared in the early hours of the morning
The incident took place when the said bus was parked at the Central Bus Station complex located in Colombo’s Bastian Mawatha.
It is reported that the driver hid the key of the bus in a secret place and got down in the morning. Later, when another driver arrived there for the day service, the bus was missing.
Subsequently, the central bus stand was informed about the incident. Initially, when I searched for the bus in Pettah area, I could not find it. As a result, investigations were started immediately regarding the incident of missing bus.
In this situation, another bus driver informed that the said bus was stopped on a road in Peliyagoda area. Based on that information, the police went there and found the bus.
However, when the bus was recovered, it was found that all the diesel had been removed from it. Although it is suspected that the people who took the bus may have dumped the fuel in the area after removing it, the final results will be revealed through investigations.
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Pettah police are conducting further investigations into the incident. The investigating officers of the Colombo Central Bus Station are also collecting information related to the incident.
Also, officials from the Colombo Fingerprint Registration Office have visited the spot and collected traces in the bus. These clues could help in the investigation to identify the people who took the bus.
Buses used in the state transport service are important for the daily commute of the public. The loss or damage of such vehicles may also affect the continuity of transport services. Therefore, measures such as safe parking of vehicles, securing of keys and ensuring night surveillance at bus stands become important.
Important questions that may arise among the public regarding the incident are how the bus was taken, whether there was a lapse in security arrangements and what was the reason behind the removal of the diesel. These highlight the need to find out the real causes of the incident. However, no official information about those involved in the crime has been released yet.
The Sri Lanka Transport Board bus that went missing in Colombo has been recovered in Peliyagoda area and it has been confirmed that all the diesel has been removed from it. Police are continuing investigations to find out who took the bus and what is the background of the incident.