Exorcist arrested after ritual kills woman in Laggala

An exorcist who had performed a ritual on two women and a man in Dasgiriya, Laggala, was arrested after one of the women, a 48 year old resident of Galkiriyagama died due to a sudden illness.

Police said the woman had suddenly fallen ill during the ritual performed during the night last Friday and had died after being admitted to the Dambulla Hospital. She had been first admitted to the Dasgiriya hospital and later transferred to the Dambulla hospital.

The exorcist who had performed the ritual had forced the three participants to drink 21 king coconuts and the one who died had suddenly fallen ill.Then the exorcist had given her water mixed with turmeric powder to drink. The woman had fallen seriously ill after drinking this water mixed with turmeric.

It is said that the husband of the deceased woman had asked her to participate in the ritual in order to get rid of an illicit affair she was having with another man. The husband who had asked his wife to participate in the ritual calling it as an astrological remedy had said it would help her to stop the illicit affair. The exorcist was remanded till June 27 after being produced in court.