Sri Lanka, June 25 -- The recent Lucknow inferno is a wake-up call for Sri Lanka. It has exposed how vulnerable our old high-rise apartment blocks are to fire disasters.
Most of these buildings were built decades ago, before modern fire safety codes were enforced.
We urgently need mandatory fire exit audits for ALL old high-rise residential buildings across the country. This cannot wait.
Key points every audit must check:
1. Functioning fire alarms, sprinklers, and smoke detectors on every floor.
2. Clear, unobstructed fire exits without locking latches or keys and stairwells.
3. No storage or parking blocking them.
4. Working fire hydrants, hose reels, and extinguishers with valid expiry dates.
5. Electrical wiring condition ...