Housing complex fire kills two

Yasaratne GAMAGE

A fire which broke out around 2.30am yesterday in an apartment in a housing complex in Wellawatte, claimed the lives of two persons.

The fire brigade put out the fire with the assistance of Wellawatte Police and prevented it from spreading to other apartments. Police said the body of P K Sathyanadan, 64, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in the burnt down apartment while S Shermila, 32, succumbed to her injuries at the Colombo National Hospital.

Jeganathan’s body was sent to the Kalubowila morgue for the post mortem.

Police said the man and the woman had been living in the house for around three years. They had also employed a housemaid. Police said the deceased is an American of Sri Lankan origin. Police found the man’s foreign identity and passport. Wellawatte Police are investigating.