Sri Lankan cricket coach dies after altercation with 17-year-old school player

Veteran Sri Lankan cricket coach and former school mentor Sumith Fernando died on Tuesday, August 11, following an altercation with young players at a cricket facility in Colombo.

Fernando died while undergoing treatment at a hospital for his injuries, sustained during the incident on August 8. The 62-year-old had coached several notable Sri Lankan cricketers, including the current ODI captain Kusal Mendis during his school days.

According to Times of India, the incident took place when a group of young cricketers training at the sports facility went to get drinking water but found no running water available. It led to a wild disagreement between the players and stadium staff over the issue. Seeing the tensions escalate, Fernando, who was at the venue and had previously worked as a curator at the Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club, tried to intervene.

Police said the situation quickly turned physical, with two players involved in the confrontation. A 17-year-old school cricketer was allegedly involved in the altercation, during which Fernando sustained injuries. He was taken to Colombo National Hospital for treatment but died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment.

17-year-old player arrested

As a result, the police arrested the 17-year-old player on Monday on suspicion of assaulting Fernando. Since he’s a minor, he’s been placed under child probation custody after being produced before a Colombo court.

His custody has reportedly been extended until August 17 as the investigation continues. Fernando, who was a former coach at Prince of Wales College in Moratuwa, played an important role in nurturing several young cricketers at the school level throughout his life. His funeral was held on Thursday, August 13.