Seven Buddhist monks, including three foreign nationals, were killed on Wednesday evening in a tragic cable car accident in central Sri Lanka, police confirmed.
According to authorities, the monks were travelling to Na Oyana Monastery, a prominent Buddhist retreat located about 130 kilometers northeast of Colombo, when the cable supporting their carriage snapped, sending it plunging to the ground.
A police official told AFP that 13 monks were inside the cabin at the time of the accident.
Two escaped with minor injuries, while four others were critically wounded and remain in hospital. The remaining seven were pronounced dead at the scene.
Among the deceased were three foreign monks: one from India, another from Russia, and a third from Romania, police said.
Na Oyana Monastery is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centers on the island, drawing monks and visitors from both Sri Lanka and abroad for its spiritual and meditative practices.
The tragedy has raised concerns over the safety standards of cable car transport in Sri Lanka, which is used in remote and mountainous areas to reach religious sites and rural communities.
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