An undergrad's untimely fate

By Ananda Agalakada

Dimasha was the village beauty. Her waist-length tresses gave her a lot of character. She had an olive tan complexion and this showed off her sharp features. In addition she had brains as well.

The grief-stricken  mother

Dimasha, a versatile dancer and held audiences spellbound

The scene of the alleged crime

The victim in happier times

An elegy for the victim

She did her Advanced Level examination and had done well. She was later selected to enter the Arts Faculty in Colombo. Dimasha was overjoyed as this was her dream come true. Her beauty and her comeliness drew villagers as well as the undergraduates towards her but Dimasha was quite open and entertained everyone who wished to keep her company but kept her distance. Once she was selected to University there was no turning back. She would leave the home at the break of dawn and board a bus to Colombo and then go to her boarding place. From here she would trek to the university.

It was during the time that she was waiting to board a bus that a good looking chap was sending her 'come hither' looks and from that day on, he kept a close watch on her and befriended her. A few days later he struck up a close friendship with her and there was no turning back. They would often meet in Elpitiya town and coo into one another's ears and move around shying away from the prying eyes of the villagers, who were ever ready to indulge in a juicy gossip. Time passed and they had built a relationship which was now hitting three years. He would purchase little gifts and give her and as time went by, Dimasha who was now maturing and could see the various dimensions of those around her, felt that her boyfriend Tharindu was attempting to take control of her life. He would scoff at any new idea that Dimasha put froward not allowing her to proceed.

Dimasha was boarded in Colombo and since her parents were not well off she thought that she would do some part time work and earn some money so that she would not have to burden her family.

Dimasha began studying the English language with all earnestness and became quite eloquent in the Language.

The next thing she did was to organise some English classes for young children. Her classes were a success and there was a reasonable turnout of students. Dimasha earned enough to pay her boarding fees and to even give some of it to her parents. Dimasha was quite happy with her achievement but Tharindu was dead against Dimasha being in Colombo throughout the week and became suspicious of her. He entertained doubts and suspected her of having another relationship with an undergraduate.

Of late continuous arguments broke out between the two and he would threaten her and force her to give up her teaching stint and her undergraduate studies as well, but this did not go well with Dimasha. She chose to ignore him and carry on regardless. Her colleagues were on her side and encouraged her to continue with her English classes. Dimasha had conveyed to her mother the displeasure and disapproval that Tharindu had shown over her going to Colombo but she assured her mother that her friends were with her and that they would prevent anything untoward from happening to her.

Twenty- two-year-old Dimasha Gayathtri resided in Niyagama Thalgaswela with her parents and two siblings. She was an under graduate at the Arts faculty of the Colombo University. Dimasha had tried hard to enter the University and had finally, realized her dream. She was a happy-go-lucky girl. Dimasha dreamt of a bright future. She always kept in mind her mother’s words that the only dowry she could give was a wholesome education

With the sun spreading its glory over the landscape over the remote hamlet of Elpitiya, it was gripped by fear with the news of a lifeless body of young girl being found in a pool of blood. The sad story spread like wild fire among the young and the old. The villagers were in tears and could not control their emotions. it was dark day for the hamlet in Elpitiya.

“I cannot do anything that Tharindu was against my leaving for Colombo. I know he can't do anything to me because my colleges were always around me”, these were some of the last words spoken by Dimasha to her mother Sudharma Tirimana. Dimasha Gayathtri met a ghastly death at the hands of her boyfriend, nearly a week ago.

“We were initially against this affair. However, Dimasha did not give up and she said she had already made her decision. However, Tharindu was suspicious about my daughter's every move. I think this arose out of jealousy” Dimasha's mother said.

Dimasha was an avid reader and grasped how she should get about in her life. She was a hard working girl and had tried to get through her degree with flying colours. Dimasha's mother was well aware of her love affair with Tharindu but regrets that she should have got the two of them married .

Then they woud have understood one another ad come to terms over their issues.She had known that her daughter was having an affair with Tharindu for over three years.

“Last week I wanted to take my daughter from Colombo because the Niyagama bank informed me to redeem some gold articles which Dimasha had pawned. When she returned home from the bank, she received a call from Tharindu. He had threatened her, not to go to Colombo again. Dimasha immediately told me about the telephone call. She was very distressed.

Later my daughter told me however she would go to Colombo because she was conducting an English class which she did not to miss. She earns Rs 7000 monthly from these classes and this was of immense assistance for Dimasha to continue her studies and she paid her bills and boarding fees.

"On that fateful day Dimasha was preparing an English lesson late into the nigh. Suddenly her mobile phone rang and I heard her answering the phone.

It was Tharindu. In answer to a question from him she said she was planning to leave for Colombo the next day in the 3.15 am bus.

Again Tharindu phoned her and he asked whether she would go to Colombo in the bus around 3.15 in the wee hours of the morning. Later Dimasha told him over the phone that she would go to Colombo at dawn.

I was happy because I thought that Dimasha would not have to travel alone as Tharindu would accompany her and she would be safe", Dimasha's mother said.

By the time she had got off the bus, Tharindu was already in Elpitiya to meet her. The incidents which followed are not clear. In the morning villagers had found Dimasha's blood- soaked body.

Dimasha's mother said she had sacrificed her leisure for her education. Dimasha lived with expectations of a bright future. Alas, what happened to her? Tharindu destroyed her in a moment of wild fury and becoming a beast, she said.

Twenty five- year-old Tharindu Indrajith Tharindu Athukorala was a soldier attached to the fourth regiment of the Gemunu Watch.

At Elpitiya where the incident occurred it is alleged that he had told Dimasha to live peacefully with him and forget any wrongdoing on his part. But apparently Dimasha did not heed his words and turned a deaf ear and had begun to walk away from him.

He then reached out to her and stabbed her with a knife. Dimasha fell in a pool of blood in a few seconds. Later he rushed home and changed his blood stained clothes and set the clothes on fire trying to erase every trace of the incident.

After changing into another set of clothes, he had come once again gone to Elpitiya town to leave for Colombo.

By that time his friends who met him told him about the fate that had befallen his girlfriend. Tharindu told them that he did not like to see bodies and that he felt squeamish and would faint.

Being forced by his friends he went to see Dimasha's body and he attempted to take her body in his hands but the villagers felt that he was putting on an act just to mislead them.

Tharindu could not escape from the wrath of the villagers at that time. He was handed over to the Elpitiya police by the villagers. Acting OIC of the Elpitiya police IP Shelton Kumara, Crime OIC IP Upul Vidanage including SI Indika Herath and Tharanga are conducting further investigation on the instructions of Acting SSP Upali Bandaranayaka of the Elpitiya police division.