The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (14) acquitted and released former Mrs World Caroline Jurie and Chulpadmendra Kumarapathirana, who had been charged with forcibly removing the crown from and assaulting Pushpika De Silva at the 2021 Mrs Sri Lanka pageant.

The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S Bodaragama following a lengthy trial into the incident, which occurred at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo.

Delivering the verdict, the Chief Magistrate held that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Court was also informed during proceedings that Kumarapathirana had passed away.

The case stemmed from an incident at the Mrs Sri Lanka 2021 pageant, during which Jurie allegedly removed De Silva’s crown after claiming that she was ineligible to hold the title as she was divorced. Jurie subsequently faced charges relating to the incident.