Seven Buddhist monks killed in accident at Na Uyana Monastery

The number of Buddhist monks who were killed following the accident at the Na Uyana Theravada Buddhist Monastery (Na Uyana Aranya Senansenaya) in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura, Kurunegala currently stands at nine , with four others injured, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi told Parliament this morning. He revealed that two of the injured Buddhist monks are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 

The incident occurred when a track dolly (Dakkuwa) that was being used to transport the monks to their meditation huts crashed last night. The monks were returning to their meditation huts after a religious ceremony at the time of the incident. Investigations into the accident are currently ongoing. 

Three of the deceased monks are foreign nationals while other other four were Sri Lankans, the Minister added. The deceased foreign monks were from Romania, Russia and India, he further said. 

Both the government and opposition offerred their condolences over the tragedy.