Galle District Cricket association president Premasiri Halambage shot dead

Well known organiser of Ambalangoda and president of Galle District cricket association Premasiri Halambage was shot dead on Friday (12 August) night. He was a famous businessman in the country and was part of the Sumandasa Group of Companies.

Police said, two unidentified individuals, who arrived in a white car, had fired at Halambage while he was driving near his residence at Manimulla in Ambalagoda. At the time of the incident the 10-year-old son of the victim was also in the car but came out unscathed in the attack. Reports indicated that before being admitted to the Balapitiya Base Hospital, Halambae died due to his injuries.

Halambage had played for the Sri Lanka A team. Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club and Singha Sports Club in his career. He was a right-handed batsman and right-handed off-break bowler. The Sri Lankan scored 3366 runs in his entire first-class career with 6 centuries and 16 fifties and 147 was his career best.

Halambage, 52, was elected the Galle District cricket association president on 28 July 2016. However, the election was held under very challenging conditions. On the day of the election, the members of the Galle Cricket association were blocked from entering the premises of Galle International Cricket stadium, as the Stadium authority had kept the gates locked. However, the members had done a meeting in front of the Stadium gate and the election was held outside the association premises.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket was not pleased with Premasiri’s appointment as the president of the Galle District Cricket association.

The Sri Lankan Cricket association submitted a letter where they noted that the relevant election should be held on the 27 of this month. Halambage, who sought legal action against the measures taken by Sri Lanka Cricket, requested for an enjoining order from the Lankan Court.

Following that, the Galle District Court had issued an enjoining order suspending the Cricket association election, scheduled to be held on 27 August.

The Australian team management says the incident will not impact the rest of their tour of Sri Lanka. They do not have a one-day international or Twenty20 game in Galle, though they are playing 5 ODIs and 2 T20s.