According to the Colombo Fire Brigade, around 40 firefighters were dispatched to douse the fire, which erupted at around 12:37am today (25).

The Fire Brigade had dispatched two fire trucks, four water browsers, and an ambulance to the location.

No casualties were reported and the fire had been doused at around 1:50 am.

Around 85 people had been residing in the houses destroyed by the fire, the Colombo Fire Brigade added.