April 11, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan brewer whose truck was involved in a fatal bus-truck crash on Tuesday, is offering cash to accident victims, an official said Wednesday. Local brewer, Lion Brewery Ceylon Ltd, is offering to pay 125,000 rupees (1,200 dollars) to relatives for each of the victims who died, while those who survived will be paid 25,000 rupees (231 dollars), its Director Finance, Ranil Gunatilake said.
At least 22 people died and 57 others were wounded when a truck packed with beer bottles crashed into a crowded passenger bus in the the coastal resort town of Induruwa, 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Colombo.
Most of the victims were trapped in the wreckage and burnt to death, Kosgoda police said adding that eight women, a five year old child and the two drivers were among the dead.
Only seven out of the dead have been identified so far, police said adding that initialy investigations showed that both drivers were at fault. However, Police are unable to press charges since both drivers died.
“As at 10.30 a.m. our distributor in Galle has said that relatives of six of the victims have come forward to make a claim,” Gunatilak