The burning fate that befell a cabaret dancer

By Ananda Agalakada

A shapely hour-glass figure, a beautiful tan, rosy lips and a sensual body, these physical traits were her bane. Kanchana Gayani Abeyratne, a village damsel turned out to be a cabaret dancer, not that she knew what it all meant - all she needed was money as she was always cash strapped having no money for herself. She was born in Rambukkana to villagers who had nothing to call their own.

Her husband whom she was compelled to marry by her relatives who told her that since her parents were no more she had to settle down and found a partner for her. She later bore a child. The child was a son and she was quite happy. After eight years Kanchana gave birth to a daughter.

However, her family life began to take its toll and began to crack. Unending desires haunted both Kanchana and her husband. The poverty stricken life was a huge headache for Kanchana.

Dissension in the family gradually increased with arguments getting from bad to worse.

Later Kanchana and her husband decided to part ways because they realised there was no use in living together under these circumstances and the two children were left in the care of Kanchana's husband's mother.

Kanchana sought elegance and colour but did not have the necessary educational qualifications to land with a lucrative job in the city.

After failing many attempts at various jobs, her attractive looks landed her as a cabaret dancer at a night club - where the qualification was just an attractive body.

Side view of her residence

Victim’s annexe in Kudamaduwa Siddamulla

Kanchana had always been an independent and headstrong girl.The following narrates the story of a woman who constantly tried to seek a path of her own, after failing to live up to the standards set for her by parents, peers, husbands and society.

Doe-shaped eyes

Kanchana's parents were poor people in their village and trouble seemed to follow them mainly due to lack of money.

To make matters worse, Kanchana's parents met with an early death leaving her behind to face the rigours of society.

Kanchana was an attractive girl. Her doe-shaped eyes and pink rosy cheeks would attract any man.

She had to marry early as village society forced this upon her which they said was for her protection and future well-being.

Vibrant life

Kanchana had to end her education as well at an early age due to poverty. She nurtured dreams of a vibrant life which she saw often in teledramas which she watched daily on TV. As time went by Kanchana realised that she could not achieve this task by staying in the village where she was bound by the many standards set by the village society on how a damsel should behave. So that was why she moved to the big city.

She performed her role as a cabaret dancer well and the got a good response from the audience in the club located in Kollupitiya.

Her son and daughter gradually grew up safely under the watchful eyes of their grandmother. She visited them at least once a month.

With money coming through her profession as a dancer she thought of a bright future for them.

However, she felt lonely after parting ways with her husband and was on the lookout for someone with whom she could live happily ever after as the adage goes. She found a person whom she wanted to live with as man and wife.

They were quite happy and life went on as usual. Kanchana also brought her two children to live with her. After sometime as usual cracks began to appear in this marriage as well. Now she conceived again and gave birth to a bonny baby boy.

Second husband

Kanchana's ex-husband came to know that all was not well in Kanchana's life. He came to Kanchana's house and took his two children away to live once again with their grandparents. Kanchana lived with her second husband and youngest daughter in an annexe at Kudamaduwa Siddamulla. She continued as a cabaret dancer even after her second marriage as it gave her good money.

She had no other option but to keep her youngest daughter with her neighbours. She did this as a routine.

On that fateful day Kanchana had gone as usual to the night club. Suddenly while she was at the nightclub her second husband rushed into the night club and began to quarrel with Kanchana citing a trivial matter. The situation was getting out of hand and the police were informed about the quarrel.

A constable attached to the Grandpass police was sent to solve the matter.

The constable took Kanchana's side and chased away her husband. Now it was a love tryst between the policeman from the Grandpass police who fell head over heels for Kanchana's attractive looks.

Lunch parcel

Kanchana left her second husband and began a relationship with her new lover. The wheel kept turning in Kanchana's life as she tried to to fill the void by going from one relationship to another.

A few days ago, Kanchana was in her apartment all alone. A neighbour had seen the constable visiting Kanchana with a lunch parcel. Later the neighbours saw Kanchana running outside the apartment in flames. She ran towards the nearby well and the woman next door rushed to help.

The neighbours poured water on Kanchana but it was too late she fell near the well..

The police constable too rushed to the scene. He pretended as if he had arrived on the scene at that moment and told the neighbour that he had not visited Kanchana earlier.

Ambulance

When the neighbours were about to inform the police, the constable left the scene immediately on his motor cycle saying that he would bring an ambulance to take Kanchana to hospital.

But he never came and the neighbours informed the police and rushed Kanchana to hospital. But it was too late for her.

Later police found that the constable had met with an accident in Padukka and was suffering minor wounds.

He was treated at a private hospital in that area.

Lifeless

The police had found a photograph of the constable in the wallet of the lifeless Kanchana.

Later the Police arrested the constable on suspicion for murder.

The OIC of Piliyandala police CI Somaratne Wijemuni, Crime OIC, IP Nandasiri Gamage SI Duminda and OIC SOCO, CI RKDF Wijewardena are conducting further investigation on the instruction of acting SP Uditha Perera and ASP, J.M.P. Jayalath in Mount Lavinia police division.