Homeowner dies in a house fire in Mulleriyawa - Was it a murder due to a family dispute or a suicide?

A tragic news has been reported of a three-child father losing his life in a sudden fire that occurred in a house located on Narangoda Road, Mulleriyawa, Angoda. The fire broke out on the early morning of the 30th with an explosion, and the severely burnt homeowner died on the spot.

The person who tragically died was a 56-year-old individual. He was involved in a food vending business in the Galwana area and was also a father of three children.

The deceased's wife has given a statement to the police, stating that she had been away from home for two days due to a disagreement with her husband. It has been revealed that frequent arguments occurred between the couple, and there were previous police complaints regarding this. The police state that their three children also frequently visited this house.

This person had visited various 'dansals' (alms-givings) on Poson Poya day and returned home after midnight. Subsequently, around 1:30 AM that night, one of his daughters also arrived home, and she stated during police questioning that her father was already asleep in the room at that time.

Later, in the early morning, neighbors observed a large fire breaking out with the sound of roofing sheets exploding. They immediately acted, breaking down the closed gates, doors, and windows of the house to enter and make a strenuous effort to extinguish the fire. However, by the time they reached the room, the homeowner was found burnt to death on a bed.

The police suspect that this death may have been caused by self-immolation. However, extensive investigations are underway to confirm whether this was a suicide or a homicide. A team of officers, including Acting OIC of the Criminal Investigation Division, Police Inspector Liyanarachchi, under the guidance of Mulleriyawa Police Station OIC Chief Police Inspector Ajith Wijesinghe, are conducting further investigations into this matter.