Sri Lanka ferry carrying children, teachers capsizes killing at least 6; more missing

The ferry, travelling on the country’s eastern coast, about 260km (160 miles) northeast of the capital Colombo, was carrying as many as 35 passengers. Twenty were rescued.

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said the vessel was taking mostly students and teachers to a school across a lagoon in the town of Kinniya when it capsized around 7.30am local time.

He confirmed six people, including four children, were among the dead and said eight navy teams, including divers, searched for the missing before the search was called off.

The cause of the capsizing has not been identified yet, Thalduwa added.

Villagers, police and navy managed to save 20 people, half of them children, and rushed them to a nearby hospital.