STINKING TRAIL OF MRS. SRI LANKA PAGEANT
Ugly Scenes at the Pageant
In April 2021, Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant for Mrs. World was held at a prime venue in Colombo. Since the world pageant was inaugurated in 1984, two Mrs. World title holders were produced by Sri Lanka namely Rosy Senanayake and Caroline Jurie. Interestingly, Caroline Jurie was the reigning Mrs. World, having won the coveted world crown in 2020. The customary honor of crowning the emerging queen fell on Caroline Jurie. Accordingly, Pushpika De Silva was adjudged the Mrs. Sri Lanka 2021 for Mrs. World pageant. She was sashed and crowned. A few moments later, Caroline Jurie came on stage and grabbed the microphone to make an announcement which had taken the audience by surprise. Caroline declared that the panel of judges has a concern about the marital status of the newly crowned. Since she was a divorcee, she was ineligible to hold the title. Then, the most unpleasant events unfolded as Caroline Jurie forcibly snatched away the crown on the head of Pushpika De Silva to the latter’s utter embarrassment. She broke down in public and walked away in tears and despair while the first runner-up was declared the new winner. It was Rosy Senanayake, former Mrs. Sri Lanka who was first to condemn this act in support of Pushpika De Silva. This ugly saga didn’t stop on the stage but continued thereafter when Pushpika De Silva lodged a complaint at the Police Station, Colombo Cinnamon Gardens. This Polonnaruwa born beauty of 31 years eventually proved the fact that she was not a divorcee but only separated from her commercial pilot husband. So, she was reinstated as Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. World pageant on the following day. Public sympathy remained with Pushpika De Silva for the unsavory plight she had undergone at the hands of Caroline Jurie and the panel of judges and Caroline thus became the villain of the story. This prompted Caroline Jurie to abdicate the world crown on her own accord subsequently before retiring from the limelight of world’s married beauties.
The saga re-emerges after one year respite
Nothing much was discussed of Pushpika De Silva in public as she prepared to represent the nation at the world pageant. However, a few months back her name re-emerged connected with the notoriety of State Minister Lohan Ratwatte’s escapade into Welikada Prison in the middle of the night with a gang of friends to see the gallows. She was one of the friends in his company at the time of this ugly incident. She came to her state minister friend’s rescue when she once again addressed a media briefing with tears in her eyes stating that they didn’t go to see the gallows contrary to what was reported. This incident had cost the state minister his portfolio connected with Prison Reforms and prisoners’ welfare. Again, this news item submerged with time and there was no news of Pushpika De Silva until recently. Meanwhile, she went on to represent the country at Mrs. World spectacle held at Las Vegas, USA on 15th January 2022. She was fortunate to be included in the final 6 finalists but failed to make it to the final three. So, she returned empty handed. The furore erupted shortly after her return from the USA as she posted a claim on her facebook account that she was chosen the fourth of the contest. This claim was immediately challenged by the panel of judges at the world pageant. Resultantly, she was asked to withdraw her claim by the world pageant authorities. In fact, the choosing of fourth, fifth and sixth places were shelved by the pageant organizers some years ago. With this, her name was once again featured prominently in the media with Chandimal Jayasinghe being the National Director of Mrs. World in Sri Lanka issuing a formal letter to Pushpika stripping her of the Mrs. Sri Lanka title. This denouncement came in the wake of Pushpika making defamatory comments on Chandimal Jayasinghe and Rosy Senanayake in a YouTube channel operated by famous TV journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama. She has given a similar interview with Danu Innasithamby, another popular YouTuber and media personality in which she was highly critical of some interested people who acted out of jealousy to bring about her downfall.
Mentor becomes her bitter foe
Rosy Senanayake, former beauty queen turned Politician was said to be Pushpika’s mentor in the run up to the world contest. She had been steadfast in supporting her in the most difficult times. In fact, Pushpika had a lot to learn from this veteran former beauty queen. But, the unexpected happened instead. In Pushpika’s YouTube interview with Chamuditha Samarawickrama which she personally sought, she pointed an accusing finger at Rosy Senanayake stating she undercut her from becoming Mrs. World out of jealousy. She also claimed that she footed the entire cost of Rosy Senanayake’s travel to the USA for the pageant and even paid for meals and accommodation since she was not officially invited for the occasion. She pointed out that the airfare on Emirates business class for her alone cost her Rs 1.2 million. She further said that Rosy Senanayake arrived only two days prior to the gala event and thereafter, everything went downhill for her. This has infuriated Rosy Senanayake as she refuted her claim saying that she had no status to influence the panel of judges who were immaculately independent in their judgements. So, she declared Pushpika’s claim to be totally unfounded and baseless. Besides, there was no evidence to prove the fact that Rosy Senanayake was behind her downfall at the pageant. On the other hand, she had no reason to perpetrate such a deed of depriving her of the world title out of jealousy or malice. Obviously, it was purely Pushpika’s misconception about the whole affair which cost her the local title as well. Meanwhile, out of sheer determination to be crowned Mrs. World for 2022, she made a special Rs 7.5 million worth designer frock to adorn upon being crowned which never happened. Obviously, she has spent a great deal of money in her sojourn at the pageant with an overenthusiastic zeal or craving for the coveted title. Downplaying all those who played a role in her downfall, she bitterly levelled accusations against a particular person obvious to everybody, stating that this person will face a terrible punishment at the hands of the almighty God and she has given it over to God to deliver justice. Ironically, this has sealed her fate. Mrs. World National Director had to take action against this renegade beauty so he stripped her of the Sri Lankan title. Meanwhile, Rosy Senanayake has filed a lawsuit claiming damages to the tune of Rs 500 million while Chandimal and Danu claiming Rs 200 million each from Pushpika De Silva. Now, it has become a beauty pageant turned 900 million legal battle for disgraced Pushpika. Therefore, much more interesting milestones were to unfold of this saga in the future.
