17 killed in Sri Lanka accident

At least 17 people are killed and more than 50 injured in a head-on collusion between a passenger bus and a truck in southern Sri Lanka.

At least 17 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Tuesday in a head-on collusion between a passenger bus and a truck in southern Sri Lanka, police said.

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A fire broke out soon after the collision in Kosgoda, 90 km south of Colombo, and some of the bus passengers burned to death.

The lorry was carrying beer for the coming traditional Tamil-Sinhala New Year celebrations on Friday and Saturday.

The accident was the worst since last year when 50 passengers were killed when their bus crashed into a train at a crossing in central Sri Lanka.

Last year, 2,100 people were killed in road accidents in Sri Lanka. According to the police, the number of accidents has increased in recent months despite increased penalties for traffic offences.