Seven Buddhist monks were killed in a tragic accident when a cable car carrying them crashed at the world-famous Na Uyana Monastery in Melsiripura, Kurunegala district, on the night of September 24.
Among the deceased are three foreign monks, whose bodies have been placed at the Gokarella District Hospital. The remaining monks’ bodies have been sent to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.
According to reports, 13 monks were inside the cable car at the time of the accident. The monks were returning to their meditation quarters after completing religious rituals at the sacred site when the tragedy struck around 9:00 p.m.
Seven monks lost their lives, while four others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. Two monks managed to escape with minor injuries by jumping from the cable car during the accident.
Police suspect that the accident occurred due to the breaking of a support cable on the vehicle that was transporting the monks to the mountain peak. The Pansiyagama Police have launched further investigations into the incident.
