9 bodies still unclaimed from Batagoda elders home fire

Fourteen people died in a fire at the 'Senehase Kaedella' centre for individuals with various disabilities in Batagoda, Anguruwatota, and no relative or anyone else came forward to claim the bodies of nine of them, it was revealed in court today.

The revelation occurred when the case was called before Horana Chief Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage today. It was also submitted to the court that relatives of the other five victims came forward to claim those bodies.

The court ordered the release of the 38-year-old suspect, Isuru Anushka, who maintains a social media account under the name 'Loku Aiya', on a cash bail of 100,000 rupees and two personal bails of one million rupees each. He was arrested and remanded on charges of operating the detention home in an unsafe manner. In addition, the Magistrate ordered the verification of the suspect's residence, the surrender of his passport to the court, and took steps to impose a travel ban on him.

Fifty-one inmates at the detention centre were rescued at the time of the fire, while 14 died and four others sustained injuries and remain hospitalised for treatment, the court heard. It was also revealed that requests to admit inmates to this institution were made under the letterheads of several social services organisations, including the Divisional Secretariat.

Anguruwatota Police, submitting facts to the court, stated that rescuing the inmates became extremely difficult as the doors and windows of the detention home were locked when the fire broke out. Police further revealed that the suspect failed to inform the police or the fire brigade regarding the fire, but took steps to video the fire and release it to his TikTok social media account.

The suspect was produced before the court via Skype technology. The Magistrate ordered the case to be called again on 25 June.

Attorneys-at-Law Thushara Gunaratne and Harshana Matharaarachchi appeared for the suspect in court. The OIC of the Anguruwatota Police, Inspector of Police Asanka Rajakaruna, presented facts to the court, while Police Sergeant Lalith (35477), Janaka (41145), Gunapala, Anuruddha (55834), Woman Police Constable Sandamali (8457), and Devika (8635) conducted further investigations.