Update: Death at Cylinder politician's house suspicious - Chula's mother tells police

The untimely demise of veteran model Chula Padmendra Kumarapathirana, who had become a leading name in the country's fashion modeling industry, is not merely the farewell of one beauty queen, but rather the beginning of a mysterious drama concealing many dark secrets.
 The entire country is in a state of severe agitation after her lifeless body, at 46 years old, was found on a bed in a luxurious house in the CT Gardens housing complex on Gangaramaya Road, Wewala, Piliyandala, just a few hours after she successfully concluded her duties as the National Director and Chief Training Consultant for the grand 'Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026' beauty pageant held at the Waters Edge Hotel in Battaramulla.

Intensifying the mystery of her death, the revelation that blood had oozed from her mouth and stained the pillow has rapidly fueled suspicion as to whether this incident was a normal heart attack or the result of some unseen force or conspiracy. According to initial police investigations, she arrived at this house in the early hours after the event with a businessman connected to politics, who had contested the last general election under the gas cylinder symbol. The businessman stated to the police that although he tried to wake Chula, who was sleeping face down on the bed, she did not respond, and after seeing blood splattered across the pillow, he called the 1990 Suwasariya ambulance service. However, after health workers who arrived at the scene confirmed that she had already passed away, the incident was reported to the Piliyandala Police.

Chula's mother had come to the police to give a statement regarding the incident, and during the initial investigation, reports emerged that the businessman had stated, "Even though I spoke, she didn't wake up.." and "I called 1990 immediately."

Her mother, who strongly suspects that there is some mystery behind this sudden demise, has already lodged a complaint with the Piliyandala Police Station, requesting a full and impartial investigation into her daughter's death. The police teams conducting the investigation are focusing on the nature of the relationship between the two and the sequence of events that occurred in the final hours. Both the deceased model and the businessman are legally married individuals, and although they were not separated from their official marriages, police investigations have revealed that even her parents were aware of this close relationship. Furthermore, what happened within the private premises where the house is located during those early morning hours remains a mystery shrouded in darkness.

Although some sources have speculated that the cause of death might be a heart attack, the police have not ruled out any possibilities due to factors such as how the body was found and the bleeding from the mouth. A post-mortem examination and a magisterial inquiry are scheduled to be conducted in relation to the incident, and their scientific findings will determine the nature of this suspicious demise. Under the direct instructions of Chief Inspector Chaminda Kulasinghe, the OIC of Piliyandala Police, a team of officers including Sub-Inspector Liyanarachchi, OIC of the Various Complaints Division, Police Constables Bandara (74934), Kumara (100319), and Woman Police Constable Virajini (9055), are engaged in investigations to find all evidence from the beginning to the end of this incident.

Chula Padmendra, who had been a prominent name in the country's fashion modeling and design industry for over two decades, was not merely a model but also a talented instructor who introduced many newcomers to the field. Among those trained through her 'Chulpadmendra Catwalk Studio' was Caroline Jurie, a former Mrs. World, and Chula herself had demonstrated international talent, having received the media award at the 'Miss Tourism Model of the World' competition held in Tanzania in 2006. She also showcased her acting skills through cinematic creations like 'Sweet Angel,' 'Gindari 2' (Asani Wasi), and 'Swara,' as well as several popular tele-dramas. She was a personality who had prioritized her family and child, stepping away from the field for a period before re-entering it.

However, she was known to society as a strong personality who stood firm for her beliefs and spoke directly against injustice. The verdict in the case filed against her, along with Caroline Jurie, regarding the incident of Mrs. Pushpika De Silva's crown being removed at the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in 2021, was scheduled to be announced by the Chief Magistrate of Colombo on October 17th. In such an investigative and sensitive environment, her suspicious death just hours after concluding another triumphant night in her life further complicates the web of mysteries surrounding her demise.