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It Appeared To Be a Hit-and-Run Case. However, There Was More to the Story.
The Murder of Adeline Vitharana is known as the Wilpattu Murder.
It was midnight on March 14, 1959. It was near the 27th milepost between Puttalam and Anuradhapura, near the Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka, when a lorry driver saw a woman’s body on the side of the road. The driver informed the authorities.
It appeared to be a hit-and-run case. However, the post-mortem examination conducted by the forensic medical analysis expert revealed that it was a deliberate murder committed by running over the body with a car more than once.
Further, the forensic examination revealed that she was about seven months pregnant and between the ages of 20 and 25. Since she was not a local woman, it was difficult to confirm her identity.
The police published the news through the newspapers. Back then, it was known as the Wilpattu Murder.
An Innocent Girl Who Trusted a Liar
Adeline Vitarana was the youngest child in the Vitarana family in Katugastota. Despite dropping out of school after passing her O/L, she was a brilliant student. She had an older sister who later became a schoolteacher.
In November 1956, Adeline began a romantic relationship with Jayalal Anandagoda, a teacher at a school in Kalutara. However, Jayalal introduced himself to Adeline by a different name and occupation.
Jayalal had a playboy lifestyle. Unbeknownst to Adeline, she trusted her lover. Jayalal was deceiving her. She soon became pregnant by Jayalal. She was 20 years old at the time.
After Adeline’s pregnancy, her parents learned of her affair. The news shocked her father, and he became ill. Adeline sent Jayalal a telegram about her pregnancy. His reply was to come to Katugastota town to meet him.
Adeline and her mother met Jayalal and came home with him. He promised to marry her and take care of the child. Adeline’s family soon realized that these were false promises. Then she wrote to Jayalal again.
The letter was returned stating that no one by that name was at that address. Accordingly, Adeline and her mother went to…
