Premawathi was the eldest daughter of Hendrick Appuhamy, a watcher attached to the Department of Wildlife in Kataragama. She had ten brothers and sisters. In 1970 she was crowned the festival queen at that year's new year festival in Kataragama.
Death
On 5 April 1971, JVP insurrection started and Kataragama was a center of insurgent activity. The small Kataragama police station, under Sub Inspector Udawatte was attacked several times by insurgents and the police withdrew from Kataragama. Colonel Derrick Nugawela was appointed military coordinating officer, Hambantota District on 11 April 1971, began organizing the military units in the area to counter the insurgents and reestablished government conrtole in the district. Having entered and established control of the town of Tissamaharama, a platoon of troops from the Gemunu Watch held by Lieutenant Alfred Wijesuriya, a volunteer officer moved on Kataragama on the 16 April under the orders of Colonel Nugawela. They entered Kataragama and established camp at the Kataragama Pilgrim's Rest with limited opposition. Inspector Udawatte and his policemen were ordered to move into the army camp, as the police station was damaged in the attacks. On the 16 April Inspector Udawatte and three police constables came in a jeep and arrested Premawathie at her home. That day several girls, including Premawathi, who were believed to be involved with the rebels were arrested. Premawathi was tortured through the night to no avail revealing nothing about her activities. Infuriated the lieutenant made Premawathi take off her clothes and walk across the town nude while been beaten by him and another officer. Finally stopping near a post office, the officers opened fire on the girl and buried her alive. They returned on two separate occasions to finish her off. She ultimately died from a bullet to the head from a rifle of an unknown soldier.
Aftermath
The 22 years old Premawathie's murder suspects Lieutenant Alfred Wijesuriya and Amaradasa Ratnayake a member of the volunteer force were brought into trial and found guilty for attempted murder on the 17 April 1971 by shooting her with Sterling sub-machine guns, an un-identified soldier shot her head with a rifle to death. The two accused were sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment in 1973. Later in 1988 Ratnayake was killed by the suspected JVP hit team at Matara as a punishment for the murder of Premawathie.
Her murder attracted national attention and was a major issue addressed in the 1977 election. UNP candidate J. R. Jayewardene discussed the attack in great detail and condemned Sirimavo Bandaranaike's handling of the crime to discredit his opponent.
