1 dead and 2 injured in a nightclub elevator crash

Colombo (News1st): A 24-year-old lost his life when an elevator at a nightclub, located down Nawam Mawatha, Slave Island, crashed this morning (December 29). Two others were injured in the tragedy. A group including 24-year-old Kokila Samandapperuma arrived at the building at around 2 AM today (December 29). The group had entered the elevator to go to a nightclub in the 9th floor of the building. It is suspected that the elevator had crashed from the first floor to the ground floor of the building. The two youth who were injured in the accident were hospitalized. The victim Kokila Samandaperuma was a resident of Thalangama North. Kokila who played for CR&FC was well recognized as a promising rugby player. Well known as ‘Marco’ among his peers, Kokila’s death comes as a shock to the entire rugby community who mourns his death. The officer in Charge of the Colombo Fire Brigade, M.B. Senadheera stated that every elevator can only carry a certain weight and this elevator had a maximum of 10 but according to the information that they had received there were around 15 when it crashed. He added that they suspect a wrong button might have been pressed and that is how he fell in between the elevator and the floor. Senadheera said except for his hand, his entire body was stuck in between and that this is the first time he came across a situation like this in his 23 year long career. He added that they faced difficulties in recovering his body and that two officers from his crew held the lift and that's when they were able to go down there and recover his body. Who is responsible for the safety of elevators? When News1st inquired from the Colombo Municipal Council and the Urban Development Authority, the officers said that these do not come under their purview. Therefore, who will take responsibility when such incidents take place in public places?