Suspicion leads to homicide and suicide

by S. Selvakumar

Despite her undying love for 25-year-old medical student Amila Chaturanga, Maheshika Priyangani could not believe that he suspected her of having another love affair. She was extremely worried and took an overdose of sleeping tablets and had to be warded at the Peradeniya Hospital. She was discharged within a few days but unable to get back home alone stayed in the hospital overnight. When Chaturanga from Kurunegala visited her around 8 p.m. he alleged by gave her a packet of poisoned milk and she died immediately after taking it.

The following day he went to the Kurunegala town in his car with a friend. He parked the car near the lake while his friend in the rear seat operated a laptop. After some time his friend realised that something was wrong with Chaturanga. He noticed him struggling and was short of breath. He was rushed to the Kurunegala Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead due to cyanide poisoning.

Chaturanga was attached to the Ragama Medical College while Priyangani was studying at the Moratuwa campus. The families of both parties knew about the affair and gave them their blessings. The couple often met at their homes.

Recently Chaturanga told his mother that he was suspicious of Priyangani and he believed that she was having a love affair with another boy. His mother advised him that it may not be so and if he believed it they could talk to her about it. When Priyangani was confronted she totally denied the allegation and together with their parents visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa where she swore that she did not have any other love affair, other than with Chaturanga.

All were happy afterwards and decided to spend some time at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. From Peradeniya they returned to their respective homes.

However, Priyangani was unhappy that Chaturanga suspected her and probably to teach him a lesson she took an overdose of sleeping tablets. She was admitted to the Peradeniya Hospital. Chaturanga visited her throughout her stay in hospital. But his suspicion of her having another affair lingered.

On the penultimate day of her discharge he visited her around 8 pm and gave her a packet of milk which she happily consumed only to fall sick again.

On hearing about her condition the doctors rushed to her bed side and despite the efforts her life could not be saved.

The following day when the Police launched a search for him Chaturanga was at the banks of the Kurunegala lake in his car. While his friend was in the rear seat operating a laptop, Chaturanga seated in the front injected himself with cyanide which he had brought in a syringe.

His friend noticed him struggling and becoming short of breath. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

Thus the precious lives of a future engineer and a doctor ended solely due to suspicion.