The Na Uyana Tragedy – A Wake-Up Call for Safety

The recent tragedy at Na Uyana, where seven Buddhist monks lost their lives, was a disaster that could—and should—have been avoided. Sadly, this is not the first such incident in Sri Lanka, and unless serious corrective measures are taken, it will not be the last.

As a nation, we pay scant respect to safety. The authorities must hold accountable all those responsible: the installers of the cable car, those in charge of its maintenance, and the local authority that issued a license for such a primitive contraption.

This tragedy also raises a broader concern. Similar disasters could easily occur in high-rise buildings where lifts and escalators are installed, unless strict inspection and servicing protocols are enforced. In developed countries, operating licenses and safety inspection certificates are clearly displayed inside lifts. In Sri Lanka, however, such practices are virtually non-existent.

It is high time that annual inspections, certification, and strict enforcement of safety standards become the norm, not the exception. Only then can we prevent avoidable tragedies and ensure public confidence in the very systems meant to support our lives.

Upali Weerasinghe