Life of Silibiris 34

The escapees managed to get away before Maradana Police got activated and arrived at the scene.


But Sira was bleeding profusely from the gunshot wounds..


Vije kept on calling out Sira’s name, to keep him conscious.


Sira drifted in and out of consciousness mumbling incoherently. All Vije could make out was “Ka…Kaanthi…Kanthi duwa”


Vije wanted to stop the getaway car and take Sira to a hospital but the rest of the gang over ruled him arguing that they will all get caught. They kept on saying it was not too far to their hide out and they will find a kalaa dosthara there.


Sira didn’t make it.


He died in a pool of blood dripping down the car seat, drenching Vije who was cradling Sira’s head on his lap..


Vije was distraught. Abey simply did not know what to do.


When they eventually reached Wilpaththu jungle later that evening the news had spread like wild fire around the island.



All police stations were on red alert.



Major roads were blocked with makeshift check points erected. However, the horse had bolted. The gang was holed up in an abandoned farm house in Thanthirimalai along with Sira’s body.


Abey and Vije concluded that it was too risky to get Sira’s body back to Kolonnawa. They came to a final decision after drowning several bottles of Arrack.


Sira’s body was cremated in a hastily made small pyre while Vije wept uncontrollably. He would remember as the day he last shed a tear.


When Abey realized through the news reports that the police had not identified his taxi he heaved a sigh of relief. He eventually returned home sans Vije and the rest of the gang.


In spite of a massive man hunt Vije was never found. The police never realized that Sira had succumbed to his injuries. CID cops secretly surrounded Kanthi’s house in vain for many weeks. Sira never returned from the dead.


It was in Silibiris Abey finally confided that Vije was holed up in Thanthirimalai. It was becoming increasingly unsafe there. Police were still searching for him getting very close to the prey. Silibiris had never met Vije but for Kanthi’s sake he decided to find Vije and take him to a safer area.


He did find Vije.


Silibiris spirited Vije away into the place he knew well.




Ambarawa jungle.


Silibiris enlisted the help of his friends to look after Vije’s needs until the day Vije decided hiding in the jungle was not for him.



A few weeks after the daring escape he returned to Kolonnawe Pelihouse having heard that the CID men had called off their vigil.
Much to his consternation he found that their territory was almost taken over by Obeysekera Town Justin. This would never have happened if Sira was alive.


Vije had to avenge the death of Sira.


He took it out on Justin by stabbing him multiple times while Justin was taking an afternoon nap by the common well.


Vije was reborn with a fearful reputation. He became known as Kolonnawe Vije.


As soon as Vije returned to Pelihouse Kanthi broke off her affair with Silibiris purely out of fear for Silibiris life.


Silibiris was heartbroken but he understood Kanthi’s motivation.


Besides, Vije and Silibiris had become friends.


Kanthi sensed that Vije knew she had an affair with Silibiris but Vije never let on.


All that mattered to Vije was that Kanthi’s soul now belonged to him.