Prime Minister’s Media Unit

The report containing the observations and recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Committee, which was appointed to investigate the cause of the frequent fires in Modara Kajimawatta houses, was handed over to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 10-10-2020 at the Prime Minister’s Office, Colombo.

The co-chairmen of the committee, Member of Parliament Major Pradeep Udugoda and Colombo District Secretary Pradip Yasaratne were present on this occasion.

Within a short period of one and a half years, three fires were erupted in the Modara Kajimawatta estate houses and a large number of families were displaced.

The Prime Minister, who drew attention to this matter in the Colombo District Coordinating Committee, appointed this committee to investigate the cause of the fire and about the residents as well.

The co-chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Major Pradeep Udugoda and the Colombo District Secretary Mr. Pradip Yasaratne acted as the chairpersons of that committee while officials and institutions including the Colombo Municipal Commissioner, Government Analyst, Superintendent of Police, Colombo Divisional Secretary, Grama Niladhari and Disaster Management Center, Urban Development Authority, Housing Development Authority and all other relevant parties were appointed as members to the committee.

The committee that met last week investigated the ownership of the house, its current users, how the residents got there, the future measures to be taken and the reasons for the recent fires. The final report containing the observations and recommendations prepared accordingly was handed over to the Prime Minister.