“I value my self-respect more than this crown” -Pushpika de Silva

• Madam Rosy Senanayake was actually moved by the injustice caused to me and came to my defence.• I felt that many Sri Lankans and the entire world were behind me.• This incident affects the dignity of our country more than the beauty pageant.• I do not know why these two behaved in this manner and who manipulated them.• There are lot of individuals who helped me during the incident.

- Dilan Krishantha

Pushpika de Silva, the winner of the beauty pageant held in Sri Lanka to pick the island’s representative for the upcoming Mrs World Pageant, who saw her crown being yanked off by last year’s champion in an ugly on-stage fracas, has been re-declared the victor. Pushpika maintains that she’ll seek the assistance of the law regarding issue. Pushpika, who needed treatment in hospital after the incident, that took place on Sunday, was renamed ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ at a small ceremony on Tuesday (April 6). “I forgive everyone involved in this incident,” an emotional Pushpika told the media on Tuesday. In an interview held with the ‘Ada’ newspaper Pushpika discussed in detail the trauma she experienced due to the onstage fracas.

The following are excerpts of the interview done with Pushpika.

Q How was the feeling of being crowned?

Yes, I am happy. I have no words to express my joy. There are lot of individuals who helped me during the incident. Madam Rosy Senanayake heads the list. She was actually moved by the injustice caused to me and came to my defence. I felt that many Sri Lankans and the entire world were behind me. I wish to remember all those persons. Thank you for standing behind me. I also extend my thanks to the social media and the print and electronic media. I am exhausted. I could not bear up the pain and anguish, but God granted me strength to bear up everything with patience and to face boldly the eventualities. That is enough. That is my victory. I value my self-respect more than this crown. This I consider as a great victory in my life. I cherish patience as the greatest virtue I possess. Therefore I have the feeling that I have won the whole world, which is more than the title of Mrs Sri Lanka World.