Suwa Seriya Reached Bus Crash Site in 7 Minutes, Transferred 13 Injured
In the immediate aftermath of the fatal bus crash on the Ella–Wellawaya road that claimed 15 lives, the 1990 Suwa Seriya National Ambulance Service mobilized a coordinated emergency response that officials say helped save multiple lives.The first ambulance was dispatched within minutes of the alert on Sept. 4, reaching the crash site near the 24th milepost in just seven minutes, according to the Suwa Seriya Foundation. Six more ambulances were sent from surrounding stations including Ella, Bandarawela, Badulla, Buttala, Hali-Ela, Wellawaya and Badalkumbura.Thirteen injured passengers were stabilized and transferred to hospitals in a joint effort involving Emergency Medical Technicians, ambulance drivers, and command center staff.
“This was one of the most challenging recent operations in terms of coordination, geography, and urgency,” a senior official from Suwa Seriya said. “Our teams acted swiftly and professionally under pressure.” The response was supported by the Sri Lanka Police, Army, Disaster Management Centre teams, and local residents, who assisted with rescue and traffic control.The foundation expressed gratitude to frontline personnel and acknowledged the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and Dr. Asanga Wedamulla in overseeing post-crash medical care.Operating since 2016, Suwa Seriya provides 24/7 emergency medical transport across Sri Lanka. The Ella–Wellawaya operation is being cited internally as a model case for future multi-agency response protocols.
