Bus parked in Galapitamada goes missing, found in Nelundeniya

The Galapitamada Police have launched an investigation into the theft of a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus belonging to the Alawwa Depot. Police said, the theft had taken place on Tuesday between 6.45 pm and 4.45 am the following day.

The bus bearing number WP NB 9816 had been parked by its driver, at the

Galapitamada town subsequent to arrival from Karawanella at around 6.45 pm.

Police said six SLTB buses which ply on this same route, are parked for the night at the Galapitamada town and three at the Kegalle Depot and the remaining three at the Alawwa Depot. At the time this particular bus was stolen, the other buses too had been parked in the Galapitamada town.

It had been found that the bus was missing when the driver and the conductor had come on February 15 for the morning trip.

During investigations carried out by the police it had become apparent that the drivers of these buses were in the habit of leaving the keys in the bus during the night. The police had inquired about this from the supervisors at the Kegalle and Alawwa Bus Depots. Then it had been confirmed that keys are left in the keyholes overnight.

Police said that after receiving information about the bus being stolen, they had informed nearby police stations and the supervisors of the SLTB bus depots had informed employees and carried out an inquiry as well. The bus that was stolen thus was discovered while parked on the Kandy Road in Nelundeniya.Police stated that the bus key was in the ignition hole.

The police stated that it is not clear why the bus had been stolen and abandoned in Nelundeniya and that nothing of value inside the bus was missing or damaged.