Deadly Fire At Sri Lankan Care Home Kills 12; Youngest Victim Was Just 17

Last Updated:June 04, 2026, 17:26 IST

Sri Lanka care home fire at Maupiya Sewana Elders Home in Batagoda kills 12, injures six, manager arrested as police and forensic teams probe the cause.

A deadly fire at a care home in Sri Lanka has claimed 12 lives and injured six, officials said on Thursday, adding that the manager has been arrested.

According to AFP, a fire swept through Maupiya Sewana Elders Home in Batagoda, south of the capital, Colombo, on Wednesday. The facility had both elderly and young people with mental issues as residents. At the time of the incident, 71 residents were at the facility. The youngest victim was a 17-year-old boy.

The accused was arrested on Thursday.

AFP quoted police spokesperson Fredrick Wootler saying that 51 residents and staff rescued on Wednesday had been moved to a nearby government facility.

“We have called forensic teams to investigate the cause of the fire," a police officer at the scene told reporters. The Anguruwatota police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

According to a report by Sri Lankan media, Adaderana, a magistrate’s inquiry into the incident was conducted on Thursday morning when Horana Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage visited the site.

News world Deadly Fire At Sri Lankan Care Home Kills 12; Youngest Victim Was Just 17

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