Maharagama Arson Attack: House Owner Identified as Suspect, Death Toll Rises to Three

The incident, which resulted in three deaths, occurred on the night of April 18th. The 76-year-old house owner, previously identified as the suspect, has now been named as Oliver Patrick Wijesinghe. The 46-year-old father, who sustained serious burn injuries, is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

Police investigations have revealed that the fire was allegedly set by the 76-year-old house owner himself, who later succumbed to his burn injuries.

The 55-year-old mother who died in the Maharagama arson attack has been identified as H.B. Rathnakanthi Wickramarachchi, and her 16-year-old daughter as S. Tassarani Rathnayake. The girl's father, who remains hospitalized with serious burn injuries, is 46 years old. The incident, which occurred on April 18th, took place on the upper floor of a two-story house at No. 17/2, 2nd Lane, Eksath Suba Sadaka Mawatha, Pamunuwa Road, Maharagama, where the mother and daughter were renting. The 76-year-old house owner, who later succumbed to his injuries, was reportedly on the ground floor at the time of the fire. The injured are receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, and neighbors reportedly intervened to extinguish the fire.