Speed fiend claims another life

Vijayani Edirsinghe and R Gunadasa, Ambalangoda group corr

A speed fiend took yet another innocent life when a private bus ran over an eight-year-old school girl who fell off a bicycle near Bowatta junction, Kosgoda yesterday morning killing her on the spot.

The victim Edirimunige Dilshani, a grade 4 student of Miriswatte Vidyalaya, had been travelling on a bicycle pedalled by her nine-year-old brother when the tragedy occurred.

The cycle had gone out of control and toppled throwing Dilshani on to the road.

Her brother had soon rushed to rescue her but before he could do so, the bus transporting a group of garment workers to a factory in Urugasmansandiya had run over her killing her on the spot.

Police media spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said enraged neighbours and passers by who flocked to the scene, had set fire to the killer bus and pelted stones at several other private buses transporting workers halted these, causing damage to them too.

The alleged driver of the errant bus is in police custody. The body of the girl is lying at the Balapitiya hospital awaiting an inquest which was due to be held yesterday.

Kosgoda police are conducting investigations directed by SP Sisira Kumara.