Did the Fox Hill Supercross inquiry dust off as the incident?
The tragic accident at the Fox Hill Supercross event in April 2024, which resulted in nearly 10 fatalities and over 20 injuries, prompted immediate investigations by both the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS). The Army appointed a seven-member committee led by a Major General to probe the incident, focusing on factors such as spectator safety and track standards. Similarly, the SLAS initiated an independent inquiry headed by a retired High Court Judge.
Despite these initiatives, as of March 2025, nearly a year later, neither investigation has publicly released a final report. This lack of transparency is concerning, especially given the current government’s commitment to truth and accountability. The absence of published findings not only hampers justice for the victims and their families but also raises questions about the effectiveness of safety protocols in Sri Lankan motorsports.
The Fox Hill Supercross 2024 faced a tragic end with many injured and almost 10 fatilities, yet no party has claimed responsibility
In light of these concerns, it is imperative for the responsible authorities to expedite the release of their findings. Such action would demonstrate a genuine commitment to transparency and ensure that those accountable for this tragedy are identified and held responsible. Additionally, it would provide an opportunity to implement necessary safety measures to prevent future incidents. Considering the seriousness of this tragic incident the Minister of Sports is urged to prioritise this matter to uphold the integrity of sports in Sri Lanka.
On April 21 of 2024, the 28th Fox Hill Super Cross event was supposed to create the much anticipated hype, since the virtual national motorsport event of the country made its reentry after a lapse of five years. The event unfolded with high expectations at the Diyatalawa Military Academy track, but was folded up at around 3.30p.m., with six more events to go after a massive calamity that claimed nearly 10 lives and left many individuals injured in an incident which took place during the Ford Lazer/Mazda 323 event.
The reason behind the accident could be clearly blamed on the thick dust created by the cars leading the front pack, which evidently found the competitors following at higher risk of losing visibility of the track and objects in front of them, including the differently coloured flags used by the track marshals that indicates the nature of the race according to the arising situations.
With an unclear vision, a car had already hit a barricade during the Ford Lazer/Mazda 323 event that had nearly a dozen competitors. The marshals were signaling the yellow flag, cautioning the drivers to reduce speed, not to overtake and be prepared to change direction, due to a hazard beside or partly on the track. Yet, the rest of the competitors were evidently fully involved in the race, clearly perhaps the amount of dust generated, resulting in poor visibility.
In the end, the race was forced a complete stop after two competitors hit a section of the track, directly colliding on to flag marshals and a section of the spectators. The remainder of the race events were called off soon after, following the death of seven individuals and more than 20 being injured.
Among the injured were the drivers of the two cars that were involved with the incident, and they too were admitted to the Diyatalawa Base Hospital. A day later, both drivers, aged 36 and 47, were arrested by the police and were ordered to be remanded until April 30 for causing mayhem through their ‘reckless driving’.
Yet, the police had not approached any of the officials involved in organising and conducting the event. Instead, Sri Lanka Army, under whose patronage the event was hosted at Diyatalawa, appointed a seven-member committee, chaired by a Major General, to probe the accident. Two days later, Sri Lanka Automobile Sport (SLAS), stated that it has appointed a three-member independent committee, headed by a Senior President’s Council, to probe the same incident.
Motorsports experts, who had previously involved in organising the event since its inception in 1993, believed that the whole episode was clearly preventable had the race officials acted promptly. The Fox Hill Super Cross, now in its 28th edition, was organised and conducted by SLAS since 2017. Prior to that Sri Lankan Association of Racing Driver and Riders (SLARDAR) was responsible up until 2011 and from 2012 to 2016 the event was under the flagship of Sri Lanka Autosports Drivers Association (SLADA). Both these entities had veterans of local motorsport, who were one time competitors turned racing officials.
According to those experts, the area the accident happened have been kept empty during all previous editions, and they questioned the rational need of filling up that slot of the facility. Usually, beginning from Race Director down to recovery staff, a total of 75 individuals are involved at different capacities including race marshals, scrutinising officials, recorders, starters etc.
But the last race has accommodated over 100 officials, but with very little or no experience of handling a gravel race of the magnitude of Fox Hill Super Cross. Sources revealed that these officials were not equipped with proper or sufficient communication kits, but former experts say such equipment are secondary to those with ample experience.
Prior to the Fox Hill calamity, few other incidents have taken place, also in the vicinity of Diyatalawa. Renowned Mini driver Dilshan Bandaranayake lost his life in 2008 after succumbing to injuries sustained during the Nuwara Eliya Road Race, which was banned for many years. Later, in 2017, after the Nuwara Eliya Road Race was restored, renowned rider Ananda Wedisinghe became the second victim under similar circumstances. The event never took place ever since. Even after almost a year from the incident, and after losing eight lives and having almost 20 injured, race officials are yet to provide a valid clarification as to what was the root cause of the accident.