Fatal fire: Sri Lankan refugee advocate loses son, wife and mother-in-law in blaze

Three generations of the family of a prominent New Zealand refugee advocate have died in fatal house fire in South Auckland earlier today, the NZ Herald reports. Friends are rallying at Middlemore Hospital to support Kailesh Thanabalasingham as he fights for his life following a tragic fire that claimed the life of his five-year-old son, his wife and mother-in-law. Family friend Sivaram Anandasivam said the fire had devastated three generations of the Thanabalasingham family. He said Kailesh Thanabalasingham, who was being treated for severe burns in Middlemore Hospital, was a pillar of the Sri Lankan and wider ethnic communities and the news of the tragedy had left everyone stunned. Thanabalasingham is currently an executive officer of the Refugee Council of New Zealand and has dedicated his life in this country helping the most vulnerable new citizens. Police this afternoon said the young schoolboy and two women aged 39 and 66 died in the fire at the Plantation Ave property in Flat Bush. The boy’s 11-year-old sister, and 69-year-old grandfather remain in Middlemore Hospital in a stable condition. His 47-year-old father is still in a critical condition. Friends from the Sri Lankan groups and neighbours were now at the South Auckland hospital awaiting word on their friend who had spent the morning in surgery.