Nearly 50 acres of land have been destroyed by a series of fires in the Ella Rock mountain range, Demodara Walasbedda viewpoint hill, and the Yatiella Kalondanda reserve in Soranathota, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The fires began on Thursday and persisted into Friday, with authorities suspecting arson as the cause.

The blaze at Ella Rock continued to spread through the dry forest despite ongoing firefighting efforts, fueled by severe dry weather conditions and strong winds, the Forest Conservation Department reported. The fire rapidly advanced across all sides of the mountain range, posing significant challenges to containment.

Personnel from the Forest Conservation Department, the Disaster Management Centre, Diyathalawa Army Camp, and local residents have been collaborating to suppress the flames. The DMC indicated that the fire at Ella Rock was likely started deliberately around midday on Thursday, triggering swift and extensive damage due to the dry environment.

Simultaneously, a fire broke out at the Demodara Walasbedda viewpoint hill. This fire was brought under control with coordinated efforts from Forest Department officials, officers from the Haliella Uduwara Police Special Task Force, and disaster management teams, the Forest Conservation Department said.

A third fire occurred in the Yatiella Kalondanda reserve, where several homes situated above the reserve faced potential threat. Authorities have since extinguished this fire, with the Forest Conservation Department assisting in the operation.

Police have launched investigations to identify and apprehend those responsible for initiating the fires. The investigations are ongoing as officials continue to assess the full extent of the damage and work to prevent further incidents amid the current dry conditions.