RATMALANA TRIPLE MURDER –UPDATES

The murder of wife and two children
When the bodies were burning in the room my son came to check my sugar level as if he knew nothing
“Friends are saying that is learnt via a web site that I am also suspected”
-Madura’s Mother

The hearing of the triple murder case at Ratmalana was taken up for hearing on the 16th of this month at the Magistrate Courts, Mt.Lavinia. Further information was revealed when Mother of Madura confessed that Madura was his step son adopted by her as she did not have any children. When the bodies were burning inside the room on that particular morning Madura as if he did not know anything had come to check the sugar level of his step mother. It was also disclosed my Madura’s step Mother when her daughter in law Sachethana and the kids were found to be burnt Madura had not taken any quick steps to remove them to the hospital. After he was arrested and questioned he had tried to behave to be innocent. Madura had told according to certain web sites the Mother was responsible for the triple murder. She had totally denied all such allegations. The lengthy confession was made by the 60 year old Padma kalyani de Silva was published in the ‘Rivira’ newspaper is appended below.
“I am a retired teacher residing at premises number 12/2/A, Deaf and Blind junction, Kaldemulla, Ratmalana. My son Madura was married. His wife Sachethana and the two small kids lived together in my house. The only other occupant was the house maid Irangani. She is about 57 years old. My son’s wife name was Pihibiyage Sachethana Sandamali Fernanado (31).They had two small sons. The elder was three years old. His name was Krishan Sandaru de Silva. The younger son was just one month old.Reallly the infant was just a few days younger to one month at the time the tragedy took place.On the day of the incident all were together in the house. My son slept in a separate room while Sachethana ,the daughter in law and the kids slept in a room near to the entrance door of the house. My son slept in a room close to the sitting room. I and the house maid Irangani slept in a inner room of the house which is an upstairs house.
On the upper floor there were two annexes. In them two separate families lived. The names of the occupants I cannot remember. Close to our house there are a number of neighbouring houses. When coming along the road one Rex Fernando lives. On the other side lives one Dulan Jayatillaka. On the December 17th ( Monday) morning around 6.15 a.m I switched on the TV. When I was about to watch the TV I felt a bit dizzy. I then immediately called my son Madura and requested him to check my sugar level. My sugar level had gone up to 220.My son scolded me to have not been careful. The previous day I attended an alms giving and consumed a lot of sweets.
Then I went to the kitchen where I saw the maid Irangani had started to cook. I told Irangani as my sugar level had gone up to prepare a sambol for me. She had kept water for boiling to pour tea. She requested me to call the ‘teacher’. The son who is just one month old had been born to Sachethana after a caesarean operation. Hence she was not allowed to do much domestic work. She had told my son to sleep in a separate room as there was not sufficient room for the elder son to crawl while sleeping. To her suggestion all had agreed and my son agreed to sleep in another separate room.
Then I proceeded to the room to call Sachethana to pour her milk. The door was not locked, so I opened and went in.i was shocked as the entire room was covered with smoke. I screamed calling her name and then while screaming I yelled ‘Madura’,’Madura’. Somehow I managed to open a window for the smoke to get out. The other windows too were opened by Madura, who appeared to take little interest on this grave matter. I told that the children may be unconscious and to take them quickly to hospital. I tried to grab the little child. While I was trying it slipped and fell. I saw some fire near her napkin area. The neighbours rushed in for our screams, two persons took me out of the room forcibly. I cannot tell who they were. The police too arrived in the mean time. The police informed that an ambulance is on its way.
I do not know whether anyone tried to put off the fire. Later someone told that a doctor who had come had confirmed that all were dead. The police took a statement from me. The magistrate was also present when a post mortem was carried out by a Judiciary Medical Officer. The dead bodies were taken to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital that evening. Although I was called to the Kalubowila hospital the following day the dead bodies were not shown to me. The police once more took a  statement from me. On the 19th the bodies were handed over to us.
When I was taken to the Police I saw my son. As I was furious I jumped to assault him. The police prevented it happening. One relative told me that it was Madura who had done this and is the suspect in this case. At that time the police wanted me to sit. They made me cool saying you are mother, a mother in law and a teacher. Then I asked my son whether he had a illicit love affair. Then my son told me that Sachethana was a very nice wife. I worshipped the police by praising my daughter in law and in addition she was a very good teacher. The police wanted to take a statement in that manner and publish in the newspapers. Then the police asked the question about her illicit love affair. I never knew of any illicit love affair. At that time from a police telephone he was asked to speak to his illicit girl friend. These murders had happened because of that. My son the defendant was in the suspect’s box. That day I let out a secret to the police which I hid for 31 long years, which my son was even not aware of. I told he was adopted as we did not have children. She told Madura I am not your mother while weeping. On hearing my son Madura screamed loud and cried and worshipped me by falling on my legs saying ‘my mother’,’my mother’. I kissed his head. The next day I gave a statement which I cannot recollect well. That day both I and the house maid gave statements which were recorded. The police when I was at home inspected the whole house. We normally light the kitchen with candles. In Sachethana’s room also there were candles. The police took into custody his lap top I pad.  The I pad had been given to Roshan at the next door was taken over and handed over to the police.Roshan works at the Brandix company, Moratuwa, where my son also works. He lives as boarder in a neighbouring house in the same compound but not connected to our house. He is my son’s friend. He told me Amma I gave sum money a sum of Rs 2 lakhs to Roshan to be given to Sachethana’s brother for funeral expenses. My son worked at Brandix Company, Moratuwa. I did not know his position. I think he was the Assistant Manager. My son owned a Japanese car with a 300 series number .My son and the daughter in law had never had conflicts and arguments at home. They lived a very happy life. Each day before he arrived at home he used to call Sachethana and requested to open the door and tells not to allow the elder son to sleep. After taking a wash he used to play with his young son and also fed his dinner.
On the Sunday evening I had to attend to a ‘bana’ preaching ceremony at Borupona. I asked Sachethana whether I could be dropped. She told that the elder son was promised  to be taken to the ‘play zone’ and he is been dressed to go. She kept him in the car and tied him to the seat belt. Sachethana did not go .I took a three wheeler and proceeded to Borupona. The child was taken by Madura who came home by 7.45 p.m., after I returned home. Madura carried the child from the car as he had fallen asleep and was kept on his bed after Sachethana had arranged his bed sheet.
On the day of the incident those who watched the scene attributed the deaths may have been caused owing to a current leak. What really had happened I came to know when I read the newspapers? Even my relations did not tell me. All had been burnt to death.”


Photograph- Asanka Fernando
Newspaper article: Nimanthi Ranasinghe/P Ariyaratna from Ratmalana

Read previously published articles on the triple murder at Ratmalana.
1 Ratmalana triple murder updates 6

2 Ratmalana triple murder updates 5

3Ratmalana triple murder updates 4

4Ratmalana triple murder updates 3

5Ratmalana triple murder updates 2

6 Ratmalana triple murder updates 1

7Ratmalana triple murders revealed