News
Kachcheri fire deliberate: Poser for police
View(s):By Damith Wickremesekera & Mirudhula Thambiah
The Government Analyst’s findings that the fire that gutted the Colombo District Secretariat (Kachcheri) in November was “not due to natural causes” have set a poser for the Police.
“We must first find out what that means. They (the Government Analyst) should tell us how they have come to this conclusion, so we can take our investigations forward,” Senior DIG (Western Province) Anura Senanayake said yesterday.
Additional Government Analyst S. Gunatilleke, however, defended his department’s position. “We have given a detailed report. From that the Police can deduce what has happened and proceed with the investigation. Since fuller details are available, there is no need for any concern. Perhaps the air will be cleared when the matter is discussed.”
Senior DIG Senanayake said he would summon a joint meeting between the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and officials of the Government Analyst’s Department. This would be to enable a CCD team, he proposed to assign, to learn what the Government Analyst’s findings were, he said.
Colombo Crime Division Director D.R.L. Ranaweera said officers had so far questioned 24 persons including security guards at the Kachcheri. With technical and other evidence expected from the Government Analyst, the CCD would proceed further, he said.
The Government Analyst’s Department has forwarded to Colombo District Secretary Kamal Padmasiri the report on the fire that gutted a sizeable part of the main building. It includes the District Secretary’s office as well as areas that held substantial volume of records and files.
Mr. Padmasiri said the Government Valuer was now carrying out investigations to determine the cost of the damage and losses due to the fire. He said the Kachcheri or the District Secretariat would be shifted to a new building in Thimbirigasyaya in May.
The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau had undertaken the construction of the building, Mr. Padmasiri, who is also Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, said.
The administration and the planning areas were the worst affected by the fire. “Some of the documents that were stored in steel cupboards were recovered,” he said adding that his office too had not been damaged.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus