Daughter murdered her mother with her illicit lover to get money

The 32-year-old younger daughter, who allegedly murdered her 65-year-old mother with the intention of obtaining money and gold items worth approximately ten lakhs of rupees earned while working abroad, and her 25-year-old illicit husband have been remanded until the 28th of next month. This order was issued after the suspects were produced before the Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court the day before yesterday (16).

The victim of the murder is P. Padmalatha, a mother of two, who resided near Ethungama Junction within the Thirappane town limits. She had worked abroad as a domestic helper for nearly 24 years, and through her intervention, her younger daughter also worked abroad for about 14 years. After the daughter's first marriage failed, she developed an illicit relationship with a soldier who had deserted the army, residing in the Ibbagamuwa area of Kurunegala, whom she had met through a friend.

The daughter, who returned to Sri Lanka about three months ago, had been staying at her aunt's house in the Walagambahawa Paindikulama area. Later, at the mother's request, around April 10th, the daughter and her illicit husband came to the mother's house in Thirappane, and the suspect young man also worked as a helper in constructing the wall of that house. However, during the time these three lived together, frequent conflicts arose over money.

On May 11th, the mother had informed her daughter's illicit husband to leave the house, and he, stating he was going to his village Ibbagamuwa, went to the aunt's house in Paindikulama. The next day (12), the daughter also went to the aunt's house, stating she needed to arrange her passport for going abroad. Police investigations revealed that around 7:00 PM that night, the daughter returned to her mother's house in a hired three-wheeler, and the illicit husband, after consuming alcohol at a Thirappane restaurant, entered the house during the night and committed the murder.

After the murder, the couple traveled by bus to the Dambulla area and stayed in a hotel there. The next day, the daughter filed a complaint with the Thirappane Police, stating that she had called her mother but received no response, so she came home and found her mother dead in bed due to illness.

During investigations conducted under the instructions of Thirappane Police Station OIC Chief Police Inspector T.D.S.K.P. Jayathilaka, the police suspected this was a murder due to conflicting testimonies from relatives and CCTV footage. The Anuradhapura Magistrate conducted an on-site inspection, and after the post-mortem examination, body parts were sent to the Government Analyst for further examination.

The deceased woman's final rites were scheduled to be held on the 15th at the Thirappane public cemetery, and as the body was being prepared to be taken from the house, the police arrested the daughter, her illicit husband, and the aunt on suspicion.