Former Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika de Silva told Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis in court yesterday (11) that she was shamed in front of the world after the crown she won was forcibly removed at the Mrs. Sri Lanka beauty pageant.
Pushpika de Silva was announced the winner of the Mrs. Sri Lanka 2021 pageant held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre on April 4.
However, when De Silva was about to take centre stage, reigning Mrs. World Caroline Jurie stripped the crown off of her and crowned the first runner-up saying de Silva had violated the pageant rules.
Pushpika de Silva was testifying in the court case filed over the incident.
The trial was held before Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis and Police Inspector Bandara of Cinnamon Gardens Police led the prosecution.
As the incident was not settled before the Conciliation Board, the court took steps to hear the case and the two defendants, including Caroline Jurie, also appeared before the court.
Pushpika de Silva testified and said that she participated in the interview to enter the Mrs. World 2021 pageant and submitted truthful information and passed the interview and participated in the pageant on April 4, 2021, when the final contest was held.
She said she greeted everyone after she was crowned, and the husbands of some contestants misbehaved by using obscene words and then Caroline took away her crown.
She said that she later went to the police and filed a complaint and then went to Nawaloka Hospital for treatment as she felt a pain on her head while taking a bath.
On behalf of the defence, Attorney-at-law Nalin de Silva cross-examined the witness.
He pointed out the contradictions in the testimony given by the witness in the court and accused her of using political power to gain publicity.
In response, the witness said that she endured the injustice in front of the world and took steps to go to court since the defendants did not agree to apologize and settle the matter outside of the court.
After considering the facts, the Magistrate adjourned the trial for September 24 and issued summons to the witnesses.
