Govt. Analyst tasked to probe factory fires; Not ours says CIC

Factories that caught fire do not belong to CIC Holdings or any other company in the CIC Group 

The Government Analyst had been called to investigate the fire that occurred on Thursday night at two factories, including a chemical storage plant, located in the Katuwana Industrial Zone at Homagama.  

Upon receiving the emergency call, at least seven fire-fighting vehicles from the Horana Urban Council and Homagama Municipal Council were promptly dispatched to the scene to control the fire.  

Homagama Police said that the fire was extinguished by 3 a.m. early yesterday morning with the assistance of soldiers from the Panagoda Army Camp and residents.  

Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.  Meanwhile, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that one motor vehicle was also damaged as a result of the fire.  

Additionally, it was noted that one of the factories affected by the fire was a chemical storage facility. The spokesperson urged the public to refrain from visiting the site until further notice, as there may be hazardous chemical substances present.  Furthermore, measures have been taken to ensure the continuation of operations in other factories within the Industrial Zone.  

The spokesperson also said that the Ceylon Electricity Board has also been informed and requested to assist in determining the cause of the fire.  SSP Nihal Thalduwa confirmed that the Police would provide security in the area until the investigations into the fire are completed.  

Meanwhile, CIC Holdings PLC said that the factories which caught fire did not belong to CIC Holdings Plc or any other company in the CIC Group.  

It statement said: “This article states that two factories including a Chemical Storage Plant were destroyed by a Fire and that one of the factories was a manufacturing site of CIC Lanka Ltd. We write to inform you and the public that the factories which caught fire did not belong to CIC Holdings Plc or any other company in the CIC Group.”