Bring those responsible to court, Bandarawela Magistrate orders police
Fact Finding Committee halts investigation after both parties fail to cooperate
One year after a catastrophic Fox Hill Super Cross racing incident that claimed eight lives and left 19 others with severe injuries, Bandarawela Magistrate Peter Paul has issued an order to the Officer-in-Charge of the Diyatalawa Police. Police must arrest all responsible parties from both the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports and Sri Lanka Army Military Academy, requiring them to appear before the court on or before May 20.
The magistrate delivered this ruling after determining that event organisers fundamentally failed to implement adequate safety measures to protect spectators at the racing event. He directed police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that precipitated the tragic accident. Additionally, the magistrate has mandated that investigating officers obtain an official opinion from the Attorney General regarding the case.
The devastating incident occurred on April 21, 2024, when two racing vehicles lost control during the event, veering into a crowd of onlookers. Following the tragedy, a thorough magistrate inquiry was conducted at the accident site. The latest judicial order was issued after careful consideration of all available evidence collected during the year-long investigation.
The two drivers involved in the incident—Ranjith Uluwita and Dilan Adikari—were initially taken into custody but subsequently released on bail pending further proceedings. Police Sergeant R.D.A.K. Rajapaksa, representing the complainants, informed the court that investigations remain active and ongoing.
The human toll of the tragedy was severe—seven victims died instantly at the scene from catastrophic injuries sustained during the incident. An eighth victim succumbed to their injuries while receiving emergency medical treatment at a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, a special investigation which got underway after the incident, conducted by the three-member committee headed by President’s Counsel Chandana Liyanapatabendi, has been abruptly come to a halt. This, according to informed sources, due to lack of cooperation to continue with the investigations by the related parties – the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) and Sri Lanka Army Military Academy (SLAMA).
The three-member committee, also including attorneys at-law Sanjaya Gamage and Vijaya Gamage, has informed the two parties to produce witnesses, including race officials such as marshals and even spectators, as well as officials who were responsible of the races, the security in-charge, the chief advisor and the drivers. But the committee members have come to learn that the produced witnesses had very little or no idea of the incident that took place, or merely imposters, which has caused a great deal of chaos to move forward with the findings.
The officials of SLAS and SLAMA have been absconding the calls made by the committee members, who had wanted to have a thorough look of the video footages of Race No.18, the event that caused the devastating accident involving two cars. Even this request has not been heeded by the two parties.
The committee had requested both parties of a list of requirements, locations and occurrences they needed to investigate such as the high amount of dust generated during and after a race, and the measures taken to minimise the effects caused by the dust, the safety of spectators, notably of those on the higher grounds, who later moved down within reaching distance of the track, and the overall conduct of the officials prior and during the races and aftermath of the unfortunate incident.
However, the committee and their constant requests have been constantly dodged by the two related parties, directing towards the inadequacies from the part of the organisers, who are said to have lacked the experience to conduct an event of the magnitude of the Fox Hill Super Cross. The SLAS, it is now being revealed, has responded to the committee once, and has instructed that its new administration has no connection to any incident under the previous office bearers.
