Five pilgrims including two women who entered the Sri Pada forest reserve from the upper division of the Hamilton estate have gone missing.
Four of the missing are said to be residents of Nugegoda while one is from the Laxapana area.
Police and the Army sent search teams after relatives informed that they had lost contact with their loved ones on Monday.
The Police Emergency Service hotline received a call from the pilgrims on Sunday claiming that they were lost in the forest and were unable to find their way back. According to Police, the call had not lasted long and had got disconnected within a short time. The search for the missing is continuing.