Five people were killed in a fire that tore through a safety helmet manufacturing factory in the Katuwana Industrial Zone in Homagama on Tuesday, July 21, according to Ada Derana. More than 80 employees were reported to be inside the multi-storey building when the blaze broke out.
The fire started at around 9.45am and spread rapidly through the premises. Fire brigades from several local authorities, including Colombo and Kotte, along with Sri Lanka Air Force units, were deployed to bring it under control. Search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of five victims, several of whom were badly burnt, while three other people were injured and taken to hospital, Daily News reported.
Investigators from the Government Analyst’s Department Fire Division and the Homagama Police are examining the cause of the fire.
The blaze has drawn attention to the factory’s safety record. The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) said the plant had not renewed its Environmental Protection Licence after 2024 and had failed to prepare a mandatory emergency response plan, according to Ada Derana and NewsFirst. The regulatory lapse is expected to feature in the ongoing investigation into the deaths.
