Fire breaks out at Salawa Army camp

A fire has erupted at the Salawa Army camp in Kosgama, a short while ago on Sunday afternoon, the police said.

It is suspected that the fire had broken out at the army camp following an explosion in the armoury.

The spokesman said that several fire trucks were dispatched to the location and that the flames have currently being extinguished.

The police said that surrounding roads including High Level road from Hanwella to Kosgama have temporarily been closed as a precautionary measure. Public requested not to visit the area.

The Air Force has also deployed an aircraft to observe Salawa army camp area. Several fire fighting vehicles have also been dispatched, the SLAF spokesman added.

The Army Commander asserted that all attempts are being made to douse the fire at the ammunition dump at the camp.

Meanwhile, the PMD announced that public institutions and schools in Avissawella electorate will be closed tomorrow (06) on the direction of the President  following  fire at Army camp.

The public has also been advised to refrain from touching or taking any particles found from their  areas due to the explosions and fire at the army camp. To inform of such contact 0113818609 or 2434251.

Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake said fire trucks were able to reach the site about three hours after the blaze started. “The fire had quickly spread to two ammunition dumps and it was difficult to put out the fire because the fire trucks could not reach the place,” Ratnayake told reporters. 

He said the cause of the blast was not known, but the Criminal Investigation Department had been asked to investigate.

Colombo health chief Palitha Mahipala said all hospitals were on red alert, but there were no reports of any casualties directly linked to the incident.

Military spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera confirmed the fire and explosions at the Salawa military complex, but said it was too early to say what had caused it.

The explosion was the worst at a military installation since the end of Sri Lanka’s decades-long Tamil separatist war in May 2009.

In June 2009, there was a similar, but a much less intense explosion at an army ammunition dump in the northern district of Vavuniya, 250km north of Colombo, leaving several soldiers injured.

(With inputs from AFP)