Investigations have revealed that the fire that broke out yesterday (18) in the upper floor of a two-storey house on the Pamunuwa Road, Maharagama, was intentionally set by the homeowner himself, police said.
The fire had started in the upper floor of the two-storey house last afternoon (18).
Local residents who noticed the fire had taken steps to extinguish it promptly.
During the incident, two severely burnt men who were inside the house were first taken to hospital.
Those admitted were the homeowner and one of the tenants.
However, during a subsequent search, the bodies of an elderly woman and her daughter were found inside a room in the house.
The deceased have been identified as a 55-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter.
It is also reported by Maharagama Police that the 76-year-old homeowner, who had been hospitalized, died this morning (19).
Maharagama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.
