The fire erupted at a temporary hall set up in the BMICH premises was brought under control.
The hall was gutted shortly before the exhibition of inventions organized by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission was inaugurated. The exhibition was to be held in three halls and all stalls in the gutted hall were destroyed. Eye witnesses said that the fire was caused by a newly invented cooker that was to be exhibited. Minister Patalie Champika Ranawaka called on the inventors to provide details of the destroyed inventions. The Minister said that the remaining halls will be open to the public tomorrow. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge arrived at the scene soon after and instructed the officials on the action to be taken.
One inventor stated that the fire started in the stall opposite to his. The canvass caught fire when the cooker was lit. Thereafter the petrol tank caught fire.
Another inventor stated that it was a minor fire when it erupted and they thought it could be doused. Due to petrol, the fire could not be put out with gas. They were more interested in dousing fire rather than saving their inventions.
Minister Patalie Champika Ranawaka stated that the incident would not discourage them. An investigation is being carried out and the rest of the exhibition will be held.
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge said that many inflammable materials had been brought. Final decision will be made after the tests are concluded by the government analyst. He said that justice will be done to those whose inventions have been destroyed.
The organizers said that damage has not been caused to the stalls that exhibit inventions of school children. Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana commented on the incident at a media briefing held this afternoon in Colombo.
He said that the BMICH or the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Convention hall has not been harmed. It was only the canopy hall that was gutted. The damage will be estimated after the investigations are completed. The fire started in the stall numbered 121. The invention was titled electric, petroleum hybrid cooker.
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