Tag: Sri Lanka

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Drama: Pageant Crown Snatched From Winner On Live TV

Former winner of Mrs. Sri Lanka snatches crown from new queen

Former winner of Mrs. Sri Lanka snatches crown from new queen
The crown has been snatched! (screen capture)
Crowned and uncrowned! There was serious drama during a beauty pageant this weekend when Pushpika De Silva won the title of “Mrs Sri Lanka” during the nationally televised event on Sunday. Moments after being crowned by the wife of the country’s Prime Minister, the 2019 winner and current Mrs. World – Caroline Jurie – dramatically appeared on stage and declared De Silva was disqualified from winning because she is divorced. “I am taking my first steps saying that the crown goes to the first runner up,” Ms. Jurie told the live TV audience. “There is a rule that prevents women who have already been married and are divorced.” She then approached a stunned De Silva, snatched the crown from her head, and placed the prized headpiece on the runner-up leaving De Silva to tearfully exit the stage.

The national director of Mrs Sri Lanka World, Chandimal Jayasinghe, told the BBC that the crown would be returned to De Silva on Tuesday. Expressing his disappointment in the history-making moment, he added, “It was a disgrace how Caroline Jurie behaved on the stage and the Mrs World organisation has already begun an investigation on the matter.” In a Facebook post, De Silva emphasized that while she is separated, “I’m still an un-divorced woman,” and dared her detractors to show documentation otherwise. She also shared she suffered head injuries when Jurie hurriedly took the crown from her head. According to the BBC, she plans to take legal action for the “unreasonable and insulting” way she was treated. Who thinks this might inspire some shenanigans in a future season of RuPaul’s Drag Race? Here’s another view of the snatching as seen on Sunday.

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Mass Suicide Bombings In Sri Lanka Kill 200+, Hundreds More Injured

Churches and hotels in Sri Lanka have become the targets of horrific coordinated mass suicide bombings killing more than 200 and injuring 450+ more.

From the Washington Post:

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks. Three people have been arrested and four are being questioned, police said. Three police officers were killed in a raid on a house in Colombo as they attempted to interrogate an individual in the attacks.

Blasts ripped through three churches in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa at approximately 8:45 a.m. as worshipers were gathering for services, police said. Bombers also struck three hotels and a banquet hall in Colombo, the nation’s capital. An eighth blast occurred at a home under a flyover in the city.

Ruwan Wijewardene, Sri Lanka’s minister for defense, said the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers. All of the explosions occurred between 8:45 and 9:30 a.m.

The bombings were the deadliest violence in the country since the end of its civil war in 2009. Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist nation, but is also home to significant Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. Easter is the holiest day of the Christian calendar.