Premawathi Manamperi (1949–17 April 1971) was a woman from Kataragama, Sri Lanka. She was arrested on suspicion of leading a rebel group that disturbed the country in 1971. That year, she was handed over to the army where she was tortured, possibly raped and paraded naked through the streets, and killed. Her death is a prominent event in Sri Lankan crime history. Early life Manamperi was the oldest daughter of Hendrick Appuhamy, a watcher in the Department of Wildlife in Devatagama, Kataragama. She had ten brothers and sisters. She took the Dharmacharya examination and worked as a Dhamma teacher at Kataragama Dhamma School. In 1970, Manamperi was crowned Princess of the Year at a festival in Kataragama. Death On 5 April 1971, the JVP insurrection started. Kataragama was a center of insurgent activity. On 16 April, Inspector Udawatte and three police constables arrested Manamperi at her home under suspicion of rebel association. Manamperi was tortured throughout the night, but revealed nothing about her activities. The lieutenant Wijesuriya made Premawathi take off her clothes and walk across the town nude while being beaten by him and another officer. Manamperi was shot in front of the Gunasiri Hotel (now Matara Hotel). According to Gunasiri, the owner of the hotel, after being shot Manamperi was still conscious and had asked for some water from him. However, the army officers had carried her away and made arrangements to bury her. The burial was assigned to Aladdin. Recognizing Aladdin, Manamperi took off her earrings and asked him to give them to her mother. Soon after another soldier shot her in the head. Despite being shot again, the postmortem done after her body was exhumed revealed that Manamperi was still alive when she was being buried. This has been mentioned in the full review compiled by Dr. Ruwan M. Jayaratne on the 1971 insurrection. Along with Manamperi, six other females were arrested, and they were all detained at the Pilgrim's Rest of S.L.T.B Kataragama. Controversies There are several controversies related to Manamperi's death. She was arrested under the suspicion that she was a JVP rebel whereas several witnesses have stated that she had no direct connection with the JVP. In the Kataragama Dhamma School, where Manamperi was working as a Dhamma Teacher, it was suspected that the JVP were conducting the 'Panthi Paha' programme that recruit and prepare existing members for revolt. Using this as a