Overview

• The crash occurred early Sunday near Kotmale, 140 kilometers east of Colombo, in Sri Lanka's central hill country.
• Initial reports of eight fatalities were later updated to 21 confirmed deaths, with 14 others injured, including the driver.
• The bus, operated by a state-run company, veered off a cliff on a narrow, poorly maintained mountain road.
• Rescue teams carried out medical evacuations as authorities launched investigations into road safety and operational factors like overcrowding and reckless driving.
• Sri Lanka’s hilly regions are prone to fatal bus accidents, highlighting systemic issues in road infrastructure and transport regulation.