The outgoing president of my former country just pardoned
Jude Jayamaha, murderer of the young Yvonne Jonsson, who had
dual Sri Lankan and Swedish nationality, bludgeoned to death
in an apartment at the luxury Royal Park flats. The victim’s skull
shattered Into sixty-four shards. The killer got twelve years at first,
was sent later to Death Row, from where he has been released
for good behaviour, according to the president, who happens also
to be a distant relative. Prisoners at Welikada have climbed
to their roof shouting, we too must be set free. The story is making
national, global news. The imperious president. What is the right
payment for murder? Who will greet the killer now at cocktail
parties, in the cinema? Yes, that is the Royal Park killer? Perhaps
he will sit for plastic surgery; change his name; go abroad,
as he has money. Maybe he will take a room in the town
where the surviving sister resides? She may also live in Colombo.
After all, she too is a dual national. Perhaps they will bump
into each other at Majestic City, or in the Crescat complex,
on the green at Galle Face? What will they say to each other?
Indran Amirthanayagam, (c) November 13, 2019