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 cricket for two years. A fast bowler who could also contribute with the bat, he maintained a bowling average of under 30 in first-class, List A, and U-19 cricket. Despite not making it to the senior national team, he played alongside future stars like Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, and Farveez Maharoof at the U-19 level.He played 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.
