An illicit affair escalated, a woman was killed, and a man committed suicide.

A tragic incident was reported on the morning of the 30th, in the Ganewatta, Nikadalupotha area of Kurunegala District, where a woman was murdered and a man committed suicide due to an illicit love affair escalating. The deceased have been identified as 49-year-old Marasinghe Mudiyanselage Somalatha, a mother of two, residing in Gatakululandawatta, Nikadalupotha, and her alleged illicit partner, 40-year-old unmarried Perumbadage Jayatissa.

The legal husband of the murdered woman had abandoned her several years ago. Investigations have revealed that she had been in a romantic relationship with the suspect for about ten years thereafter. However, it is suspected that the main reason for this murder is that the woman had recently left him and started a new relationship with another person. It is also said that due to the close proximity of both deceased individuals' homes, conflicts frequently arose between them regarding this matter. Additionally, the man's family members had strongly opposed their relationship.

This unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of the last Vesak Poya day (30th), where the man went to the woman's house and murdered her while she was asleep. During the commission of this crime, one of the two relatives who were sleeping in the woman's house was also injured in the incident.

Shortly after murdering the woman, the man returned to his house and committed suicide in front of it. Police have also found a letter written by him explaining the reasons for his suicide, and a machete suspected to have been used for the crime has been taken into police custody.

Regarding this incident, Kurunegala Acting Magistrate Dr. Philician Perera inspected the crime scenes and recorded evidence for the inquest. Officers from the Wellawa Police provided assistance for these inquest proceedings.