Jurie was arrested for removing Silva’s crown minutes after she was declared Lady of Sri Lanka 2020 and damaging the venue.
Colombo police have arrested the current Ms World accused of assault for a tailcoat on the stage in which she removed the crown from the head of the new Ms Sri Lanka.
Caroline Jurie took off the crown at Silva’s Pushpika minutes after she was declared Lady Sri Lanka 2020 at a gala at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo on Sunday.
Jurie was Mrs. Sri Lanka from the previous year and had won the Mrs World competition.
De Silva needed hospital treatment after the incident, seen by stunned spectators in a packed theater and by a live audience on social media.
“We arrested Jurie and [her associate] Chula Manamendra in connection with an assault charge and causing damage to Nelum Pokuna [theatre]Said Ajith Rohana, a senior police official.
De Silva told reporters Thursday at the Cinnamon Gardens police station in Colombo that she was willing to step down if Jurie apologized publicly, but had refused.
“I tried to end this out of court, but she has refused,” de Silva said. “I can forgive, but not forget.”
There was no immediate comment from Jurie or her lawyer.
Police sources told the AFP news agency that a court hearing was likely to take place next week and Jurie and her partner, who crashed on stage on Sunday, could get bail on Thursday later.
The incident
Jurie had taken to the stage claiming that de Silva was divorced and therefore could not qualify for the award.
To be eligible for the title, contestants must be married. De Silva moves away from her husband, but they are still legally married.
Organizers said they were demanding compensation from Jurie for the damage done to the locker rooms on the stage and the frame where several mirrors had been destroyed.
Jurie has also been accused by the organizers of discrediting the event.
Local franchise headline for the pageant, Chandimal Jayasinghe, said they were “deeply disturbed and sincerely sorry” for Jurie’s behavior.