By Kalinga Weerakkody
In one of the worst road accidents in recent times, eleven including children and the elderly were killed and 22 others injured when two buses collided head-on at Nalluruwa, Panadura yesterday morning.

All those killed were in a bus transporting a group of pilgrims to Kataragama. It had collided with an Elpitiya-Colombo bound private passenger bus which was overtaking another vehicle close to the Gothami Children’s Home, police said.

Among the dead was the driver of the pilgrim bus.

The injured were admitted to Panadura and Colombo hospitals.

Colombo Accident Service Director, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said 16 of the injured were admitted and of them, a 5-year-old girl and an elderly person died.

Two of the injured are in the ICU as their conditions are critical. Many suffered head injuries, Dr. Jasinghe said.

Police arrested the driver of the private bus. Further investigations are continuing.