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Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant De-crowned

Beauty pageant winner has crown snatched on stage

he former titleholder pulled the crown off of Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika de Silva on stage, saying she was ineligible to win the competition.

Colombo police has arrested the current Mrs World on charges of assault over an on-stage fracas in which she pulled the crown off the head of the new Mrs Sri Lanka.

Caroline Jurie yanked the crown off Pushpika de Silva minutes after she was declared Mrs Sri Lanka 2020 at a gala at Colombo’s Nelum Pokuna Theatre on Sunday.

Jurie was the previous year’s Mrs Sri Lanka and had gone on to win the Mrs World competition.

De Silva needed hospital treatment after the incident, seen by stunned spectators in a packed theatre as well as a live social media audience.

“We have arrested Jurie and [her associate] Chula Manamendra in connection with a charge of assault and causing damage to Nelum Pokuna [theatre],” senior police official Ajith Rohana said.

De Silva told reporters outside the Cinnamon Gardens police station in Colombo on Thursday that she was ready to drop charges if Jurie made a public apology, but she had refused.

The incident

Jurie had come onto the stage claiming that de Silva was divorced and therefore not eligible for the prize.

To qualify for the title, contestants must be married. De Silva is estranged from her husband, but they are still legally married.

Organisers said they were claiming compensation from Jurie for damages to the stage and backstage dressing rooms where several mirrors had been smashed.

Jurie has also been accused by organisers of bringing disrepute to the event.

The local franchise holder for the pageant, Chandimal Jayasinghe, said they were “deeply disturbed and sincerely regret” Jurie’s behaviour.