A mother and her teenage daughter were killed after a fire broke out on the upper floor of a two-storey house in Maharagama, allegedly set by an unidentified group, while two other individuals sustained serious burn injuries, police said.
The victims were identified as a 55-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter, who had been residing on rent at a house located on the Second Lane of Eksath Subasadaka Mawatha, Pamunuwa Road, Maharagama.
The girl’s father and the 76-year-old owner of the house also suffered severe burn injuries in the incident and were admitted to hospital for treatment.
According to police, the incident occurred on April 18, and neighbours quickly intervened to extinguish the fire before rushing the injured men to hospital.
During subsequent inspections of the premises, the bodies of the woman and her daughter were discovered inside a room on the upper floor.
Investigators reported a strong smell of petrol at the scene, and preliminary findings suggest that the house was deliberately set on fire, which police have classified as a suspected double murder.
The motive behind the attack has not yet been established, and Sri Lanka Police officers attached to Maharagama Police are continuing further investigations.
