Indian Monk Among Seven Killed in Sri Lanka Monastery Cable Car Tragedy
Cable Car Overturn at Sri Lanka Monastery Claims Lives of Seven Monks, Including Indian National
Colombo, Sep 25: A devastating accident at a renowned forest monastery in northwestern Sri Lanka has claimed the lives of seven Buddhist monks, including one from India, and left six others injured, police officials confirmed on Thursday. The tragic incident occurred late Wednesday night at the Na Uyana Aranya Senasanaya, a prominent meditation monastery located in Nikaweratiya, about 125 kilometers from Colombo. Known for hosting international meditation retreats and attracting practitioners from around the world, the monastery is regarded as a vital center for spiritual practice and mindfulness training.
Among those who lost their lives were monks hailing from India, Russia, and Romania, highlighting the monastery’s global spiritual reach and the diversity of its monastic community. Of the six injured, four remain in critical condition and are receiving intensive medical care at nearby hospitals. According to preliminary reports, the tragedy unfolded when a cable-operated rail cart, used for transportation within the monastery’s hilly terrain, overturned unexpectedly, leading to the fatal incident.
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or safety lapses were responsible. The Sri Lankan Buddhist community, along with international practitioners, has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the monks, who had dedicated their lives to spiritual discipline and the pursuit of enlightenment. The incident has cast a shadow over the monastery’s serene environment and raised pressing questions about safety protocols at religious institutions frequented by both local and foreign devotees.
