Former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Dhammika Niroshan was shot dead outside his residence on Tuesday in Ambalangoda, Galle District, reported local media.
Niroshan was accompanied by his wife and two children when an unknown person shot him using a 12-bore firearm.
Sri Lanka Police are currently investigating the murder of Niroshan. 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 returned to Sri Lanka not more than three months ago as he had left the country after his close friend Dasun Manuwadu was killed in the same area.
Niroshana, a promising all-rounder, was supposed to become of Sri Lanka’s great but he took an early retirement from cricket in 2004, at the age of 21. He made his U-19 debut in 2000 and also captained the young side briefly in 2002.
He never got to play with Sri Lanka’s senior team, but the 41-year-old did share ground with the likes of Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, and Farveez Maharoof at U19 level, all of whom became the future superstars in Sri Lanka cricket.
He featured in 12 first-class matches and 8 List-A games for the Galle Cricket Club between 2001 and 2004, scoring over 300 runs and taking 19 wickets.
