‘Were you in the vicinity of First Cross Street at any hour on that day?’

‘Yes, we were. At about twelve-thirty that night.’

‘Did anyone invite your wife to go to the hotel?’

‘A man who arrived in a three wheeler called my wife to accompany him. She said, “I’m afraid. Who knows what kind of man this is. You go and speak to him and see for yourself.” I went up to the vehicle and spoke to the man. He asked me whether the woman was willing to go with him to the hotel. He said he knew that they would give a room there. He asked me how much I would have to pay my wife. I answered, one hundred and fifty rupees for my wife and another one hundred and fifty for the room. He agreed, and entered the hotel with my wife.’

‘Where were you?’

‘I stood outside waiting for her to finish her work and come back.’

‘Did you notice anything in particular about the man?’

‘Yes, sir, he was wearing a chocolate brown shirt and a blue sarong.’

‘How long did you wait outside?’

‘Not very long. A few minutes later ….’

‘How many minutes later?’

‘About five minutes later.’

‘Yes?’

‘My wife came out and told me that the man had been arguing with the employees of the hotel. Sudu, one of them, had asked her to leave the place.’

‘What were they arguing about?’

‘I think it was about getting the same room he had previously used.’

‘Why was he so anxious about getting the same room?’

‘Perhaps the others cost more.’

‘What happened next?’

‘There were sounds of an altercation going on. Raised voices, angry words … a violent argument … the sound of blows.’

‘And then?’

‘I peeped through the entrance and saw Ratne and Podimahattaya going into a room of the hotel. The man in the chocolate brown shirt and blue sarong was not to be seen.’

‘Did you hear anything?’

‘Yes, sir. I heard a voice shouting out ‘Mahatthayo, please let me go.’ Later on I met my wife. It was about 1.15 a.m. She was tired. We decided to have a cup of tea and we came back to the same hotel. I heard one of the men giving some orders about bringing something immediately. I couldn’t quite catch the words.’

‘I take it you heard the words.’

‘Sir, I …’

‘Could it have been the weapon that was used on the man? A sword? A club?’

‘It may have been sir. The next day I identified the man with whom my wife had gone to the hotel. I remembered him well by the colours of his shirt and sarong. Chocolate brown and blue.’

‘Do you know how he died?’

‘Yes, he was stabbed many times over in various parts of his body.’