Tragedy at Na Uyana monastery

The tragedy that occurred at the internationally famed Na Uyana monastery, killing seven Buddhist monks on the spot and injuring six other Bikkhus, is another heartrending news that shocked the entire Sri Lankans within the last few days.

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From the wide publicity given over the electronic media, it is reported that this unfortunate accident has taken place when the steel cable attached to the cable cart had snapped mid-journey, sending 13 Buddhist monks plummeting down a precipice to a distance of 300 meters, at a rapid speed without any control.

Apparently, this last batch of Bikkhus, out of three, had been returning from a religious observance when the accident struck at about 9.30 pm. The strewn bodies were found more than 100 meters away, according to eyewitnesses and rescuers, which gives the impression that the cart has travelled at an excessive speed after losing the control command.

Investigations are underway on the orders of the Mahawa Magistrate who inspected the ill-fated car to ascertain the causes of the snapped cable, as images showed frayed steel cable, blood-clocked clothes, damaged equipment and poorly maintained corroded tracks on which the cart had travelled.

It is not the intention of the writer to point out the causes for the accident, as a full-scale investigation is underway and it is entirely left to the learned Magistrate to give a verdict after ascertaining all the relevant facts.

However, there are a few gray areas that demand closer attention.

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