Colombo: At least five people were killed and more than 50 others injured after three buses collided on a highway in Sri Lanka's North Central Province on Tuesday, police said.

The tragic accident occurred on the Medawachchiya-Rambewa stretch of the A9 highway in Anuradhapura district, involving two state-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board buses and a private bus.

According to police, the two government-operated buses collided head-on before the private bus crashed into the rear of one of them, triggering a devastating multiple-bus accident.

The injured were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Sri Lanka Witnesses Another Deadly Road Accident

The latest tragedy comes amid growing concerns over road safety in Sri Lanka, where fatal accidents continue to claim lives.

On October 19, at least four people were killed and several others injured in a multi-vehicle accident in the Kandy district of central Sri Lanka.

Police said a cement mixer truck collided with several vehicles and pedestrians, leaving multiple people injured. Two of the injured were reportedly in critical condition.

An investigation was launched into the cause of the accident.

Sri Lanka Identifies 712 Accident-Prone Locations

In September, Sri Lankan police identified 712 accident-prone and hazardous locations across the country following a nationwide survey.

Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya said authorities had compiled data on locations where road accidents occur frequently and shared the information with relevant agencies to strengthen road safety measures.

1,849 Fatal Road Accidents Recorded in 2026

Sri Lanka has recorded 1,849 fatal road accidents so far in 2026, eight more than during the corresponding period last year, according to police data.

The number of road deaths has also increased by 16 compared with the same period in 2025.

Police said pedestrians and motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users.

Many pedestrian fatalities involve people walking or standing along roadsides, while motorcycle deaths frequently occur when riders collide with fixed objects or roadside obstacles.

According to police statistics, Sri Lanka recorded 2,562 fatal road accidents in 2025, highlighting the continuing challenge of improving road safety across the country.