Dhammika Niroshana, former Sri Lanka U-19 cricket captain, shot dead in front of his family in Galle
Sri Lanka U-19 cricket captain Dhammika Niroshana was shot dead on Tuesday night near his home in Ambalangoda. Local media reported that Niroshana was with his wife and two children when an unidentified person opened fire. The 41-year-old ex-cricketer was attacked by an unidentified individual using a 12-bore firearm. The police suspect the killing is related to an underworld gang rivalry.
Sri Lanka police are actively investigating the incident. Police media spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa stated, “Investigations are underway to arrest the suspect involved in the shooting which seemed to be a result of a gang rivalry.” Niroshana had returned to Sri Lanka three months ago after fleeing the country following the murder of his close friend, Dasun Manawadu, in the same area.
Possible Connections
The police are also looking into a potential link between Niroshana's death and the 2016 murder of H. Premasiri, a first-class cricketer and former southern region cricket administrator. Premasiri was shot near his residence, and his murder was suspected to be connected to an international match-fixing racket involving games at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Background on Galle's Underworld Activities
Galle is known for its underworld activities and gang-related killings, with several victims connected to cricket. This context adds to the complexity of the investigation into Niroshana's murder.
Niroshana's Cricket Career
Niroshana debuted for the Sri Lankan U19 team in 2000, participating in under-19 Test and ODI
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