Schoolchildren lose their way during Hanthana excursion

By Shane Seneviratne 

Colombo , December 5 (Daily Mirror) - A group of schoolchildren from Colombo, who were on an excursion to Hanthana mountains during the school vacation and had lost their way, were rescued by the police and the army.

The students, aged  between 16 and 17 were from Kiribathgoda and Colombo. They had started their ascent from Sarasavigama in Peradeniya on Wednesday (4). 

Affected by the thick mist and cold weather, several of them had experienced muscle cramps due to fatigue.

The group contacted the police to report their situation and request for help.

The police, along with a group of army personnel, located the students and brought them down safely after a challenging rescue operation in the early hours of the following morning.

A senior police official advised against climbing he Hanthana mountains in December due to the thick mist and strong winds. He also recommended that tourists seek the assistance of a guide when exploring the area.