Sri Lankan family in Perth loses home to fire, left without insurance payout

A Sri Lankan couple living in Perth, Australia, have been left homeless after their house was completely destroyed in a fire. No lives were lost, but their financial loss is severe.

The couple had built the new house with their savings two years ago, full of hope; it was damaged beyond habitability in the recent blaze.

Because of a technical lapse caused by a small oversight, they have been unable to claim insurance for the loss, making rebuilding an enormous challenge.

Although both are currently working in Australia, losing in a single day the money they had saved over many years has left them facing a serious financial crisis. Members of published reporting Sri Lankan community are said to be standing by the family.

That one small oversight caused such a large loss has added to the family's pain, and the episode also underlines the importance of properly maintaining home insurance conditions.