It was revealed in court today (5) that the bus driver involved in the recent fatal accident in Badulla, which claimed the lives of two female students from the Southern Campus of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), previously had his driving licence suspended for five months after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The driver was arrested by police on 5 August in Labuduwa, Galle after causing an accident involving the bus he was driving and a motorcycle.

These details were presented today (5) in a motion by the Akmeemana Police to the Galle Additional Magistrate’s Court.

The driver, a resident of Dammala, Udugama, allegedly falsely reported his license as missing to the Hiniduma Police following its suspension and subsequently obtained a replacement driving licence.

Considering this information, Galle Additional Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage ordered that the suspect's current driving license be withheld and placed in judicial custody.

The tragic bus accident, which occurred on last Friday (1), involved a bus transporting students from KDU that toppled over, resulting in injuries to 40 others and killing two students.