Colombo - At least three people were killed and five others were missing when a passenger train derailed on a bridge running over a main river in southern Sri Lanka on Monday, police said.

The derailment took place in Hikkaduwa, 100 kilometres south of the capital, a popular tourist destination.

At least 20 others injured have been rushed to two hospitals and a search is on for the missing passengers who are believed to have fallen into the river.

The cause of the derailment is not yet known. (dpa)