Former Sri Lanka U-19 captain Dhammika Niroshana shot dead in Galle

Former U-19 World Cup captain shot in Sri Lanka

In a tragic incident, Dhammika Niroshana, who led Sri Lanka’s under-19 team at the 2002 World Cup, was shot dead outside his home in Ambalangoda, Galle on Wednesday. According to local police reports, the 41-year-old cricketer was with his wife and two children when an unidentified assailant opened fire, killing him. Initial investigations suggest that the shooting may be linked to past gang rivalries in the region.

A promising youngster, Niroshana made his debut for Sri Lanka U-19 in 2000 and was given the responsibility of captaining the team on a few occasions. He then led the national junior team in the 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. Although Sri Lanka could only win one match in the tournament, Niroshana proved his prowess with both bat and ball, taking 7 wickets in the competition. After retiring from professional cricket at the age of 21, he had only returned to his hometown a few months ago following threats to his safety.

Police sources have said that the murder appears to be linked to the murder of Niroshana’s close friend Dasun Manawadu in the same Ambalangoda area in 2016. They are also investigating possible links to the shooting of former first-class cricketer and administrator H. Premasiri, who was also gunned down near his home while he was the president of the Galle Cricket Association. Authorities have launched a manhunt to arrest the perpetrator and bring him to justice.