PM assures medication to treat all injured of bus accident

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya assured an ample supply of medication will be made available to treat the number of people injured in the deadly Kotmale bus accident.

The Prime Minister had earlier visited the Gampola and Peradeniya hospitals to inquire into the condition of the patients injured in the tragic bus accident.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when the bus traveling from Kataragama to Kurunegala veered off the road and plunged into a 500 feet steep cliff in the Garandiella area.

During the visit, the Prime Minister paid special attention to the availability of essential medication for patients being treated in intensive care units, as well as the need to ensure that all patients receive the required medical attention without delay, the Prime Minister’s Media Unit said.

“This is a dire tragedy, and it is deeply difficult to come to terms with such loss. Children, parents, and loved ones have been taken from us. Our country witnesses a high number of road accidents each day. The Minister of Transport is making great efforts to prevent such tragedies,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said that at least 77 people were in the bus at the time of the accident.

He said that 21 people had been confirmed dead and several others were receiving treatment in hospital.

“At this moment, I would especially like to express my gratitude to our medical professionals and hospital staff who, despite the challenges, are working together to provide treatment to the injured. I also wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who set aside their duties to transport the victims to hospitals without hesitation in this humanitarian rescue. This is what makes our country special. We must preserve such compassionate values. I also want to affirm that the government will intervene to do everything necessary in response to this tragedy,” the Prime Minister said.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.