A passenger bus fell from a cliff into a ravine in Sri Lanka on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 21 people and injuries to 35 others. This is one of the country’s most severe transportation incidents this year.
The accident occurred in the early hours of May 11, 2025, near Kotmale village, about 86 miles east of Colombo in the central mountainous region of Sri Lanka’s tea-growing hill country.
Police spokesman Buddhika Manathunga stated, “21 people died and another 35 were being treated in hospitals.”
According to police reports, the state-operated bus was traveling from Kataragama to Kurunegala, covering approximately 155 miles, when it veered off the road and descended the steep slope.
The driver was injured and was among those receiving treatment at local medical facilities.
Initial reports indicated that eight people — five men and three women — had died, but the death toll rose as more victims were discovered and some of the injured succumbed to their injuries.
Sri Lankan police have started an investigation to determine whether driver negligence or a technical fault of the bus caused the accident.
Television footage showed rescue personnel and bystanders assisting in removing injured passengers from the overturned bus at the bottom of the cliff. The footage captured emergency responders navigating the challenging terrain to save lives amid the debris. Local residents played a vital role in the rescue efforts, helping to extract people from the damaged bus and transport them to nearby hospitals.
Photos from the crash site displayed extensive damage to the bus. The roof had separated from the rest of the vehicle, which came to rest diagonally on the hillside. Several seats were detached from the floor and contents from inside the bus were scattered throughout the ravine.
Some sources suggested the accident may have occurred when the driver lost control while navigating a curve in the road.
According to a research study published in the National Library of Medicine, government-operated buses generally have a better safety record than privately owned transportation in Sri Lanka. The study found that private buses have a two-fold higher risk of accidents compared to government buses, potentially due to factors like driver training, medical screenings, and maintenance standards.
Fatal bus accidents are not uncommon in Sri Lanka, particularly in the country’s mountainous regions. Between 2020 and 2024, the nation recorded 12,140 road accident fatalities, with 198 fatal bus accidents reported in 2024 alone, according to local media reports.
The Sri Lankan government has decided to provide financial assistance to the families affected by the disaster. Authorities announced that one million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $3,352) would be given as compensation to the families of each individual who died in the accident.
Transportation experts point to several factors contributing to the high rate of accidents in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Poorly maintained roads, narrow pathways with steep drops, and challenging weather conditions all pose significant hazards for drivers in these areas.
The Kotmale region is known for its winding mountain roads that traverse tea plantations and offer striking but dangerous views of the surrounding valleys. These roads become particularly hazardous during early morning hours when visibility can be limited.
This accident ranks among the worst transportation disasters in Sri Lanka in recent years. In April 2005, a bus driver attempted to beat a train at a level crossing, resulting in a collision that killed 37 passengers. More recently, in 2021, an accident in Passara claimed the lives of 13 passengers and the driver.
Sri Lanka’s roads are considered among the most dangerous in the world, with the country recording an average of 2,300-2,500 road fatalities annually, making road safety a significant public health concern for the island nation.
The identities of the victims have not yet been publicly disclosed as authorities work to notify family members. The investigation into the exact cause of the crash continues.
