The Colombo High Court has sentenced a former police constable to death after finding him guilty of the brutal and premeditated murder of his young girlfriend, also a police constable, in a case that shocked Sri Lanka more than a decade ago. The verdict was delivered by High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli, who ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
In delivering the judgment, the court highlighted the extreme violence inflicted on the victim, noting that her body bore at least 47 deep cuts and lacerations. The judge ruled that the nature, number, and severity of the injuries clearly demonstrated deliberate intent and careful planning on the part of the accused, rejecting claims that the incident occurred unintentionally or in a moment of emotional distress.
The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of the accused, who has absconded for several years despite having previously testified in court. His prolonged evasion of the judicial process was cited as a serious failure of enforcement following his release on bail.
The accused, Jayasinghe Mudiyanselage Nilantha Pushpakumara, was convicted of murdering 23-year-old Herath Mudiyanselage Nadishani Madhubashika Samarasinghe on January 7, 2013. The killing took place at around 7.10 am on the flyover opposite the Lanka Telecom premises on Lotus Road in Pettah, Colombo. According to eyewitness testimony, the accused, who was serving at a Colombo police station at the time, had prior knowledge of the victim’s movements and waited for her on the flyover.
Evidence presented to court revealed that following an argument, the accused attacked the victim with a knife concealed in his bag, slitting her throat and repeatedly slashing her face and chest. He then forced poison, which he had brought with him in a bottle, into her mouth. Witnesses testified that the accused threatened bystanders with the knife to prevent interference as he carried out the attack.
The trial revealed that the accused and the victim had trained together at the Police Training College and entered into a romantic relationship in 2009 while serving at the Koslanda Police. Their relationship had progressed with the intention of marriage, with the consent of both families, and the couple had even purchased a 43-perch plot of land in the Bibila area to build a home after marriage.
However, the relationship later deteriorated following objections related to horoscope incompatibility and concerns about the accused’s character. Evidence showed that a few days before the murder, the accused had visited the victim’s home carrying a knife and poison, attempting to influence her mother against the marriage. The court found this visit to be a critical indicator of premeditation.
Testifying through his counsel, the accused admitted meeting the victim on the flyover but claimed he was emotionally distressed by her words and had attempted suicide by consuming poison. He maintained that he was unaware of how the victim sustained her injuries. The court rejected this version of events, stating that the testimony was clearly intended to evade criminal responsibility.
The judgment also shed light on the victim’s personal sacrifices and resilience. Despite excelling academically, she chose to join the police force rather than pursue university education, taking responsibility for supporting her younger siblings and her widowed mother. Prior to joining the police, she had even worked as a bricklayer to sustain her family.
Attorney Pradeep Jayakody, appearing for the aggrieved party, told court that serious lapses occurred during the initial investigation. He pointed out that the Fort Police failed to secure a travel ban when bail was granted, enabling the accused to flee the country and evade justice for years. The ruling has renewed scrutiny on procedural failures that allowed a convicted murderer to remain at large for over a decade.
