Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe has called for a comprehensive investigation into a fire that broke out at a factory in Homagama, resulting in five deaths.
The fire broke out at a helmet manufacturing facility yesterday morning and quickly engulfed the building, requiring more than a dozen firefighting trucks to douse the flames.
The bodies of the five deceased were recovered from the site, with firefighters stating that three of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
Context
The fire is reported to have broken out around 9:45 a.m. yesterday morning and rapidly spread across all three floors of the building.
Firefighters believe the blaze was triggered by an electrical fault in a ceiling fan, with raw materials and chemical storage significantly contributing to its rapid spread.
Around 80 employees were inside the factory when the incident occurred.
Inquiry
The Deputy Labour Minister has instructed Commissioner General of Labour Nadika Wathaliyadda to investigate whether the factory complied with the provisions of the Factories Ordinance and occupational safety regulations.
He has also asked the Commissioner General of Labour to determine if there were any acts of negligence or failures in responsibilities which contributed to the incident.
He called for greater scrutiny of workplaces involving hazardous and high-risk occupation, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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