Sri Lankan cricket is rocked by the tragic death of veteran coach and former curator Sumith Fernando, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 62. Fernando, widely respected for nurturing emerging talent, including current Sri Lanka ODI captain Kusal Mendis during his formative school years, succumbed to injuries at the Colombo National Hospital. The fatal incident occurred on August 8 during an unexpected clash at a cricket facility in Colombo.
Sri Lanka rocked with cricket coach's death
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a basic amenity issue when a group of young players training at the venue discovered there was no running drinking water available. What began as a verbal argument between the trainees and stadium staff quickly turned heated. Fernando, who was on site and previously served as a curator at the Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club, stepped in to calm the tension and mediate the dispute.
Dispute over drinking water took Sumith Fernando's life
However, the situation escalated into a physical altercation involving two players. During the melee, a 17-year-old school cricketer was allegedly involved in a confrontation that left Fernando severely injured. Despite immediate medical intervention and days of treatment in intensive care, the beloved mentor ultimately lost his life, leaving local cricket circles reeling from the sudden loss.
Following the fatal altercation, local authorities apprehended the 17-year-old player on Monday under suspicion of assault. Given his status as a minor, the youth was presented before a Colombo court on Tuesday and subsequently placed into child probation custody. To allow law enforcement time to conduct a thorough investigation, the court extended his detention through August 17.
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