Father sets fire to house:

Three children burnt to death

Rafik Jalaldeen

Four members of the same family were killed and another seriously injured when their house was allegedly set on fire by the chief occupant. The incident took place in Kahathuduwa, Piliyandala on Monday around 11.00 pm. Police spokesman SSP I. M. Karunaratna said following a family dispute between the husband and the wife, the husband set the house on fire in Kahathuduwa.

The suspect and his three children - two daughters and a son - were burnt to death while his wife who sustained burn injuries has been admitted to the Kalubowila hospital.

”Initial investigations revealed that the couple belonged to two different religions and a heated argument had developed on their different religions. The father had then poured petrol around the house and set it on fire”, he added.

Neighbours tried to douse the fire which completely gutted the house..

SSP Karunaratna said the victims were identified as K. Dassanayake (45), K. Sevvandi (19), K. Madushani (15) and Shehan Dassanayake (9).

Kahathuduwa police are investigating.