Mysterious death of lawyer: Police record husband’s statement

By Norman Palihawadane

The police investigating the mysterious death of a female lawyer found dead in her house at Bulathwelgoda, Pelmadulla said that they had recorded a statement from her husband.According to the Pelmadulla Police, the body of Dushmanthi Abeyratne, 40, who worked the Pelmadulla and Ratnapura Magistrate Courts, was found in her bedroom on Friday morning (31).

The lawyer’s husband has in his statement to the police said that he had not been at home since Thursday night (30).The police have also obtained a statement from the domestic aide of the lawyer. She has told the police that some items in the house had been scattered.

The Pelmadulla Magistrate visited the house of the lawyer and carried out the on-site inquest Friday. A local woman also gave a statement before the Magistrate.The lawyer’s family had informed the Pelmadulla police that the death was suspicious, the police said.

The police have also drawn attention to a text message sent by the deceased lawyer to her family on Thursday night, and the police say that it contains information about an attack on her.

The lawyer’s body was brought to the Kahawatta Base Hospital on Friday (31) afternoon for forensic examination, and Pelmadulla Police said that further investigations would be conducted based on the conclusion received there.Investigations are being conducted under the direction of Inspector Dhammika Navaratne, OIC of Pelmadulla Police.