Dec 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of State Administration and Home Affairs W.D.J. Seneviratne said today that a committee has been appointed to probe the fire that destroyed part of the colonial building that housed the Colombo District Secretariat.

The investigation committee is headed by an additional secretary of the Ministry, the Minister said at a press conference held today.

The committee will conduct its own investigation in addition to the police investigation, the Minister said.

The report of the Government Analyst concluded that an accelerant had been used to set fire to the building.

The fire destroyed important documents and equipment in Accounts, Administration and Planning Divisions. The damage to the historic building that was built in colonial era has been estimated at Rs. 10 million.