Colombo (News1st): A fire broke out at a two-story building down Sri Jinarathna Mawatha in Slave Island this morning (Jan 26). The Fire Brigade of the Colombo Municipal Council doused the fire in question. However, experts have raised concerns over the increased risks of fires taking place in high rise buildings.

Buildings with more than 20 floors are identified as high rise buildings in Sri Lanka and at present, we witness many high rise buildings being constructed in Colombo. It must be noted that such high rise buildings must accommodate appropriate fire control equipment and mechanisms.

In our country’s journey towards development, the construction of high rise buildings is increasing. At this very moment, more than 60 high rise buildings are being constructed within Colombo. Among them, more than 50 buildings exceed 20 floors. Experts reveal that there is a high risk of a fire taking place in such buildings. They note that the ability to mitigate fire, that may take place in a high rise building, is less in Sri Lanka with the rising number of the high rise buildings constructed in the country.

They stressed that elevation equipment used by the local fire brigade to douse a fire is only limited to less than 10 floors.

• International Day of Peace: A World on the Brink of War?
• COPE lashes out at Tea Board for failed advertising campaign
• India suspends visas for Canadians as row escalates
• Ruling party MPs in NY with President: Sajith asks WHY?
• Muthuhettigama remanded again over illegally assemble vehicle