Sri Lankan police arrests Mrs World for assaulting Mrs Sri Lanka
“We have arrested Jurie and (her associate) Chula Manamendra in connection with a charge of assault and causing damage to Nelum Pokuna (theatre),” a police official said
The Sri Lankan police have arrested the reigning Mrs World Caroline Jurie on charges of assault over an on-stage scuffle with in which she pulled the crown off the head of the new Mrs Sri Lanka, Pushpika de Silva.
Caroline Jurie yanked the crown off Pushpika de Silva minutes after she was declared "Mrs Sri Lanka 2020" in a Sunday gala at Colombo's Nelum Pokuna theatre, reports the Guardian.
De Silva needed hospital treatment after the incident.
"We have arrested Jurie and (her associate) Chula Manamendra in connection with a charge of assault and causing damage to Nelum Pokuna (theatre)," a police official said.
Pushpika De Silva told reporters on Thursday that she was ready to drop the charges if Jurie made a public apology, but she had refused.
"I tried to end this out of court, but she has refused," De Silva said.
"I can forgive, but not forget."
Police said a court hearing was fixed for 19 April and Jurie and her associate who crashed the stage on Sunday were released on bail Thursday.
Jurie had claimed towards the end of Sunday's ceremony, that De Silva was divorced and therefore ineligible for the prize. Her surprise announcement sparked unruly scenes minutes after the chief guest, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of Sri Lanka's prime minister, had left the theatre.
To qualify for the title, contestants must be married. De Silva is estranged from her husband, but they are still legally married.
The local franchise holder for the pageant, Chandimal Jayasinghe, said they were "deeply disturbed and sincerely regret" the behaviour of Jurie.
Jayasinghe said they were claiming compensation from Jurie for damages to the stage and backstage dressing rooms where several mirrors had been smashed.
The rumpus also meant the event dragged on two hours longer and theatre management demanded an additional fee of half a million rupees ($2,500), Jayasinghe added.
Jurie has also been accused by organisers of bringing disrepute to the event.
Social media calls have been mounting to strip Jurie of her "Mrs World" title, with one meme calling for her to be rebranded as "Mrs Under World".
