A major fire broke out at the ammunition dump of the Sri Lanka Army Camp at Salawa, Kosgama around 5.45 pm yesterday evening, police officials told. The fire has gradually spread, flames are seen rising at the army camp from time to time. An Army personal has died in the fire and another was hospitalized with injuries. At Least 47 people were reportedly hospitalized with injuries. Most of them were admitted to the Padukka hospital. Following the explosion, the Colombo-Avissawella main road and Kosgama-Avissawella road has been closed. Sri Lanka Army , Air Force and Navy was deployed to contain the fire. The fire brigade has also gone to the site but they were restricted to a place one kilometer away from the camp. Residents living in the radius of six kilometers around the army camp were evacuated by the security forces. People in Pugoda, Kaluaggala, Hanwella and other areas were thus evacuated. All schools and government institutions in Kosgama area will be closed tomorrow because of the major fire that broke out in Army Camp’s ammunition depot in Salawa. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had shutdown the Kosgama Power station resulting in a blackout in the Awissawella area. The reason for the fire is still unknown. Army requested people to refrain from visiting the area to see the fire.
