Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: True Crime, Sri Lankan History, Criminology

Book Review:
Dr. S. Terrence G. R. de Silva's '''Mathew': The Spiritual Healer Turned Killer'' is a gripping and meticulously detailed account of one of Sri Lanka's most sensational criminal cases. Written by a medical professional who was uniquely positioned at the very beginning of the investigation, this book offers a rare and authoritative blend of firsthand observation, medical expertise, and legal analysis.

The case, which rocked Sri Lanka in the 1970s, involved Mathew Peiris, a man known as a ''spiritual healer'' who was ultimately convicted of a brutal double murder. Dr. de Silva's involvement began in a profoundly personal way: as an intern medical officer at the General Hospital Colombo in 1978, he was the first doctor to examine Eunice Peiris, Mathew's wife, when she was admitted in an unconscious state. This initial contact with the victim placed him at the epicenter of a mystery that would soon unravel into a shocking tale of murder.

The book reconstructs the events that led from that hospital admission to the eventual imposition of the death sentence on Mathew Peiris. What makes this account particularly compelling is Dr. de Silva's ability to explain, in clear and accessible terms, the medical and legal intricacies of the case. He focuses on a crucial and groundbreaking aspect: for the first time in Sri Lanka, pharmaceuticals were used in the perpetration of a double murder. The book explores how drugs were weaponized, the forensic challenges this presented, and how the evidence was ultimately used in court.

This is more than just a true crime story; it is a piece of Sri Lankan criminal history, told by a witness who helped write its opening chapter. For readers interested in criminology, forensic medicine, or simply a well-told tale of crime and punishment, this book is a fascinating and essential read.