Bus conductor sets correct precedence

An explosion inside a crowded Sri Lanka Transport Bus (SLTB) bus with schoolchildren and office workers would have spelled disaster if not for alertness shown by the bus conductor who guessed that the parcel wrapped in wax paper lying underneath the bus seat was a lethal bomb planted by terrorists to wipe out the passengers.

The bus conductor did not panic and he promptly informed the bus driver about the discovery. Thereafter they had the courage to tell passengers to disembark and drove the bus to a lonely stretch of the Greenpath minutes before it exploded with all its fury. The Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ranjith Gunesekera told the “Sunday Observer” that the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) had been detailed to investigate the bomb explosion that wrecked a SLTB bus while injuring a few persons. The powerful time bomb was aimed at civilians to cause death, destruction and mayhem in the City of Colombo by terrorists, he said.

The heroic act displayed by the bus conductor and the driver averted a major blood bath in Colombo. The parcel bomb was detected around 1 p.m. when the bus arrived at the Town Hall last Tuesday. There were around sixty passengers, the Media Spokesman said. The consequences would have been disastrous had the bomb gone unnoticed and exploded opposite the St. Bridget’s Convent, when scores of schoolchildren were heading home that day.

SSP Gunesekera said the Police Department intends rewarding the SLTB bus conductor Majula Udayanga, and the driver Ranjith Thilakasiri and the Policemen, Constables 23535 Ananda and 38832 Dharshana from the Cinnamon Gardens Police for their valour in helping passengers to disembark from the bus and diverting the bus to a secluded spot, preventing a disaster. The passengers owed their lives to the four men who acted with courage to save their lives, while the bomb was ticking.

“It was a time bomb that contained around 300 grams of high explosives. We are awaiting the report of the Government Analyst. A special team has been detailed to collect scientific evidence,” SSP Gunesekera said.

Meanwhile, large hauls of explosives have been detected from various parts of the country during the past few months. The Police Spokesman said the total amount of high explosives detected from January this year amounted to 3057 kilos. Large quantities have also been detected from Modera, Kotahena, Wellawatte and the Wattala areas.

“People using public mode of transport from such areas have to be more vigilant about abandoned bags and packages placed inside buses and trains. Our special thanks goes to media for creating an awareness among the public to be vigilant at a time when troops are battling the LTTE in the Northern front,” he said.

Last week’s incident happened when the conductor of the SLTB Bus bearing No WPNA 3656 plying on route No 155 from Mattakkuliya to Moratuwa noticed an unattended parcel placed underneath a rear seat. Suspecting it to be a bomb, he promptly informed the driver who in turn told policemen on duty at Horton Place round-a-bout about it. Thereafter the passengers were evacuated with their help in the nick of time before the bomb exploded with all its fury. The explosion took place around 1.40 p.m. while the arrival of the bomb delousing squad was being awaited.

Five persons, who stood in close proximity to the bus sustained injuries. They were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital where they were being treated for minor injuries. According to police, the ill-fated SLTB bus had started its journey from Mattakkuliya around 12.30 p.m. and had arrived at the Town Hall around 1.00 p.m. A large crowd had boarded the bus at the Town hall and police suspect that some smuggled the bomb into the bus at that point of time. Five police teams are already working on the case, the Media Spokesman said.

During the past several months several bombs have exploded in various parts of the country. Forty five persons were injured following an explosion at Pettah near the Bo-Tree junction last month. Police said the device had contained about 50-75 grams of explosives with a timing device. An explosion inside a bus at Naulla-Matale killed sixteen women and two men and injuring 51 persons. The bus conductor told police later that two men carrying a parcel boarded the bus at Matale and got off at Naulla.

Another major disaster was prevented during the 60th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo when the Vauniya police detected a haul of 84 explosives concealed in a lorry bound to Colombo.

A few months ago the Claymore explosion at Katubedde killed 21 persons and injured 72 persons. On January 26 a joint Army-Police patrol in Colombo found a suicide jacket packed with high explosives with a device in a toilet pit at Panahe-watte at Arduruppuweediya, Colombo.