A Colombo court has officially acquitted former Mrs. World Caroline Jurie and model Chula Padmendra in connection with the viral 2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant incident, bringing an end to a high-profile legal battle that captured international headlines.
Key Highlights
- Former Mrs. World Caroline Jurie and model Chula Padmendra have been cleared of all charges by a Sri Lankan court.
- The case originated from an April 2021 incident where Jurie forcibly pulled the crown from winner Pushpika De Silva during a live broadcast.
- The legal saga officially concludes following the magistrate court’s acquittal order.
The controversy erupted in April 2021 during the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant finale in Colombo. Moments after Pushpika De Silva was announced as the winner, Jurie stepped onto the stage and claimed that De Silva was disqualified because she was divorced, violating the competition’s guidelines.
Jurie then forcibly removed the crown from De Silva’s head and placed it on the first runner-up, reportedly causing injuries to De Silva during the altercation. De Silva subsequently clarified that while she was separated from her husband, she was not divorced, and pageant officials restored her title shortly after.
Following complaints filed over the altercation, police arrested Jurie and Padmendra on charges of simple hurt and criminal force. The court’s ruling to acquit both women marks the final chapter in one of the most publicized pageant disruptions in recent history.