Kapila K. Heenatiyana –
A British court has sentenced 37-year-old Thisara Weragala to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his wife, shocking communities in both the UK and Sri Lanka. The victim was his 32-year-old wife, Niwunhellage Dona Nirodha Kalpani Niwunhella.
The tragic killing occurred on August 21, 2025, in a residential car park in the Riverside area of Cardiff, Wales. Nirodha died at the scene after being stabbed multiple times. According to evidence presented in court, the attack was extremely serious and premeditated.
The couple, who had migrated from Sri Lanka, had been living separately for several months prior to the murder. Their marriage reportedly broke down after Nirodha began a new relationship with a colleague at her workplace.
Court proceedings further revealed that Weragala had become deeply obsessed with his wife’s new lifestyle. It was established during the trial that he had meticulously planned the attack, having waited near her new partner’s residence on several occasions and taken photographs of their vehicles.
According to the evidence, Weragala purchased three kitchen knives from a B&M store the day before the murder, one of which was used in the fatal attack. After the stabbing, he fled the scene and later attempted to take his own life by jumping in front of a lorry, but sustained only minor injuries. Police later recovered blood-stained gloves and other evidence from the Ford Fiesta he was travelling in.
Although he initially pleaded not guilty, Weragala changed his plea to guilty at Newport Crown Court in January 2026. Judge Daniel Williams subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment at Cardiff Crown Court on February 20, 2026. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years and nine months before becoming eligible for parole. The judge condemned the “brutal selfishness” of taking Nirodha’s life prematurely.
In an emotional victim impact statement read in court, Nirodha’s father described her as his “only daughter” who was loved by everyone. In a statement issued by South Wales Police, her family said they were “devastated by the loss and pain caused by this violent act.”
South Wales Police and the Attorney General’s Office stated that the incident demonstrates how devastating family disputes, jealousy, and the inability to accept the end of a relationship can be.
