A fire in the Alugolla forest reserve in Badulla destroyed nearly 20 acres of land by this afternoon. The Disaster Management Centre stated that strong winds and steep terrain hindered efforts to extinguish the flames, making access to the site difficult.

A government ammunition depot located nearby creates concern regarding a potential major emergency should the fire spread further. Personnel from the Badulla Police, the Eladaluwa Army Camp, the Badulla Municipal Council Fire Brigade, and the Forest Conservation Department launched a joint operation to contain the blaze.

Forest officials attribute the intensity of the fire to dry weather and high winds. Authorities are currently investigating the incident and are not ruling out the possibility that the fire was deliberately set.