Sri Lanka, Sept. 5 -- Police stated that initial investigations into the Ella bus accident revealed that the crash occurred due to the bus traveling at excessive speed and the driver losing control.

However, a survivor of the tragedy told the media that the bus driver had complained of a brake fault shortly before the accident.

"At a bend near the waterfall, he said there were no brakes. I was sitting on the bonnet and talking. When the driver said that, the conductor laughed. Someone seated next to him also laughed, saying 'don't lie.' At the next bend, he repeated that there were no brakes. Then we realized the brakes had failed. A vehicle came along at that moment, and the bus went downhill after hitting it. At that time, I thought i...