A tragic cable car accident near the Na Uyana Aranya Senasana meditation center has left seven Buddhist monks dead, including two foreign monks, while several others remain in critical condition. The overloaded car, carrying 13 monks, plunged due to a mechanical fault, shocking the nation.
Sri Lanka was struck by tragedy last night (24) when a cable car crash near the Na Uyana Aranya Senasana in Pansilugama, Melsiripura claimed the lives of seven Buddhist monks. The fatal accident occurred when a cable car, carrying about 13 monks and reportedly overloaded with more than 500 kilograms, collapsed due to a sudden fault.
Among the dead are two foreign monks, whose bodies have been placed at the Gokarella District Hospital. The remaining victims were transferred to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, where the bodies have been identified and preserved for further investigations.
Several other monks sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving emergency treatment at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. Doctors have confirmed that some remain in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the crash to determine whether poor maintenance or overloading caused the catastrophic failure. Local residents reported hearing screams moments before the cable car fell, a chilling reminder of the dangers of unsafe transport systems.
The devastating incident has drawn national mourning, with religious leaders and the public alike expressing grief over the shocking loss of life at one of Sri Lanka’s most respected forest monasteries.
