Man jailed after admitting to murder of ex-wife

A man has been jailed with a life sentence after he admitted murdering his wife who was separating from him.

Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court today (February 20) Thisara Weragalage, aged 38, of Pentwyn, has received a life sentence with a minimum of 23 years and nine months for the murder of Nirodha Niwunhella.

Weragalage initially pleaded not guilty, however he changed his plea and was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court on January 16, 2025.

The family of 32-year-old Niwunhellage Dona Nirodha Kalapni Niwunhella, who went by Nirodha, paid tribute to her at the time of her passing. They said:

“We remember Nirodha as a cherished daughter, family member and dear friend to many. Nirodha will be forever remembered with peace, love and gratitude.

“She touched many lives with her kindness and warmth and her memory will continue to inspire us. Though her life ended too soon, the love she shared will always remain with us.

“Rest in peace angel.”

In his victim personal statement read out in court, her father said: “My only daughter was Nirodha Kalpani Niwunhella. She was a happy, mischievous, playful girl who captivated everyone’s hearts as a child. She loved her mother and father dearly and was a very good friend to her friends. She was a sweet girl who also loved animals.”

He continued: “I am 64 years old and my wife is also 64 years old. The pain and anguish we felt when we were informed on August 21 that our daughter had been murdered cannot be described in words. After the brutal murder of our only daughter, all our hopes were ruined. Her loss is an unbearable mental burden for the family.

“We faced a lot of problems because this crime took place abroad. We were further affected by communication difficulties and economic hardships. We were further hurt and mentally distressed after it was confirmed that this crime was committed by our daughter’s husband. We still cannot understand how he could have committed this heinous crime, as we loved him also as much as we loved our daughter.”

Officers were called to South Morgan Place, in Riverside, Cardiff, at 7.37am on August 21, to reports of a seriously injured woman. Subsequent enquiries found a broken knife blade and handle nearby, and an autopsy revealed Nirodha had been stabbed at least 20 times.

The police officers who arrived on the scene first commenced immediate first aid, followed shortly after by paramedics. Sadly, despite their best efforts, Nirodha died at the scene.

Witness reports told officers a man, now known to be Weragalage, who was seen fleeing the scene in a Ford Fiesta. Subsequent fast track CCTV enquiries identified the vehicle as registered to Weragalage.

Less than an hour later, officers received a welfare call from the Ambulance, following an incident on Seawall Road. Officers attended and identified the man as matching the description of the person of interest for Nirodha’s death. A search of the nearby area located the Ford Fiesta, with blood inside, and Weragalage was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Senior Investigating officer Detective Inspector Graham Williams said: “Nirodha was beloved by her family and friends, and her life was ended by her jealous and cowardly former partner. Nirodha was in the process of separating from Weragalage, who could not accept that Nirodha no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him. He bought knives to the area which he said were to intimidate her and then went on to murder her.

“I’m pleased he owned up to his cowardly actions and spared Nirodha’s loved ones from enduring a trial. While no sentence can compensate for this loss of life, I hope the end of criminal proceedings helps bring them some peace.

“This sentencing is the result of countless hours of work from teams across the force, and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their time and efforts to secure this verdict. I’d also like to thank those from the community who supported our investigation throughout.

“We will not stand for violence in any form, inclusive of violence against women and girls perpetrated by men, and we will do everything in our power to hold those responsible to account.”