A luxury bus parked at the Kaduwela main bus stand was completely destroyed in a suspected arson attack in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
Two unidentified men arrived at the bus stand on a motorcycle between 2.30 a.m. and 2.45 a.m., set the vehicle alight and fled the scene, according to Kaduwela Police. The targeted bus operated on the Kaduwela–Matara route via the expressway.
Two other buses parked nearby, running on the Kaduwela–Kollupitiya route, sustained minor damage in the blaze. The Daily Mirror reported that the destroyed bus had been parked close to the weekly fairground.
Crew asleep inside at the time
The driver and conductor of the targeted bus were asleep inside the vehicle when the fire was started. They escaped unharmed after being woken by the crew of another bus parked nearby.
According to the Daily Mirror’s account, it was that second crew who spotted the two men at the vehicle and shouted at them, prompting the pair to flee the area on their motorcycle.
Personal dispute suspected
Police said they believe the attack was carried out over a personal dispute rather than as part of any wider pattern of violence against transport operators.
Kaduwela Police are continuing investigations to identify and arrest the two suspects and to establish the motive behind the attack. No arrests had been reported at the time of publication.
The incident comes during a sustained police campaign against organised crime, which has included a grenade attack on a Ratmalana home that police are probing for possible underworld links.
Sources: Ada Derana, Daily Mirror.
