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Fire kills 12 people in Sri Lankan home for older people

By Thomson Reuters Jun 4, 2026 | 4:42 AM

COLOMBO, June 4 (Reuters) – A dozen people have died in ​a fire at ‌a home for older people in Sri Lanka, police said on Thursday, ‌while ​another eight ⁠have been hospitalised.

The ⁠fire, which broke out at a home in Anguruwatota (55 km or ​34 miles from the commercial capital ⁠Colombo), has ⁠been put out ​and the director of ​the establishment has been ‌arrested, police said.

“A total of 51 people were rescued from ⁠the home and they are being looked after by ⁠the ‌military and public ⁠officials in the ​area,” ‌police spokesperson Frederick ​Wootler ⁠said.

Two police teams are conducting further investigations, he added.

(Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; Editing by Sharon ​Singleton)