Two schoolboys, aged 13 and 15, fell to their deaths while trying to take photographs near a waterfall in the Panwila area of Theldeniya, police said, according to Ada Derana on Wednesday, July 22.
The two boys had reportedly slipped and fallen from a cliff while attempting to take a selfie during a visit to the waterfall. The falls, known locally as Jodu Ella, lie within the Knuckles forest range, Daily Mirror reported. Police recovered the bodies and were investigating the circumstances of the deaths.
The incident is the latest in a series of fatal falls at Sri Lankan waterfalls and viewpoints involving people taking photographs close to cliff edges. Such locations often have slippery rocks and unguarded drops, and safety campaigners have repeatedly warned against standing near the edge for photos.
Police and conservation authorities periodically appeal to visitors, especially young people and school groups, to keep a safe distance from cliff edges and fast-flowing water at popular scenic sites.
