Sri Lanka’s first female bus driver arrested

Five suspects including Sri Lanka’s first female bus driver who drives a bus on Southern Expressway was arrested yesterday and produced in court by Narahenpita Police for allegedly threatening and berating the National Transport Commission Chairman at his office in Narahenpita.

They have also been charged with criminal trespass.

However, taking into consideration the facts presented by defence counsel, Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris ordered to release the five suspects on a cash bail of Rs.2,000 with a surety bail of Rs.100,000 each.

Senior Counsel Gunaratne Wanninayake appearing for 37-year-old bus driver Lakshi Sajintha informed Court that his client had earlier driven a bus belonging to her brother on the expressway on a temporary route permit. He said National Transport Commission Chairman Piyatilleke Harischandra had promised to grant her a permit once she possessed her own bus. “She purchased a bus from a leasing company. Then she went to the Commission demanding a route permit for her own bus,” Wanninayake added.

He told court that the National Transport Commission Chairman had made a false complaint following a verbal dispute. The mother and brother of the female bus driver and a Buddhist monk were among the suspects arrested. The case was referred to the Mediation Board by the Additional Magistrate.