A 33-year-old mother of three from Kurulugama, Kebithigollewa, has been remanded until September 18 after allegedly killing her husband with a sharp weapon, reportedly following years of severe domestic abuse.
Acting Magistrate Niluka Priyadarshani issued the order and directed the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital to conduct a post-mortem examination and submit the report to the court. The magistrate also ordered that the suspect’s three children be placed in the care of their grandmother during her detention.
Presenting the case in court, Sergeant Prasanna Ranjith Dissanayake of the Kebithigollewa Police Case Operations Unit said preliminary investigations indicated the victim had subjected his wife to prolonged physical abuse and mistreatment. On the day of the incident, he allegedly beat her and attempted to strangle her.
Fearing for her life and unable to endure the abuse any longer, the suspect reportedly struck her husband with a sharp weapon, resulting in his death. She is said to have stayed at home with her children until the following morning, when she went to Kebithigollewa Police, confessed to the killing, and surrendered.
Sergeant Dissanayake noted there appeared to be no premeditated intent to kill, describing the case as a “deeply tragic incident that occurred as a result of misfortune.” He requested that the suspect be remanded until investigations are completed.
Senior Attorney-at-Law Ajith Dissanayake represented the suspect, while Sergeant Dissanayake represented the complainant. After considering the submissions, the magistrate ordered the suspect to be remanded until September 18.
