Foreign monks among victims in deadly monastery accident

COLOMBO (News 1st); A devastating accident at the Malasiripura Na Uyana Forest Monastery in Kurunegala has claimed the lives of seven Buddhist monks, including three foreign nationals, after a cable cart used to access hillside meditation huts collapsed.

The incident occurred last night when 13 monks were traveling in the cable cart to their respective meditation cells located in the hilly terrain of the monastery. 

The cart, which had been in use for several years to ease travel across the steep landscape, suddenly gave way, plunging the monks to the ground.

Police confirmed that six monks were injured, with two in critical condition, currently receiving treatment at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital and Polpithigama Hospital.

Among the deceased are monks from India, Russia, and Romania, who had been residing at the monastery for spiritual practice, according to Pansiyagama Police.

Local residents and police personnel rushed to the scene to assist in rescue efforts, transporting the injured monks to nearby hospitals. 

The cause of the cable cart failure is under investigation.