Halambage Premasiri

Halambage Premasiri, also known as H. Premasiri (24 February 1962 – 12 August 2016) was a Sri Lankan first-class cricketer, entrepreneur and president of the Galle District Cricket Association.[1] He was shot dead near his residence in Ambalangoda while he was the president of the Galle District Cricket Association.[2] His murder remains unsolved.

1983 Under 25 Champions Bloomfield Team H Premasiri is Behind Brendon Kuruppu on the left

Halambage Premasiri
Personal information
Born(1962-02-24)24 February 1962
Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Died12 August 2016(2016-08-12) (aged 54)
Manimulla, Ambalangoda, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-break
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
Ruhuna cricket team
Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club
Singha Sports Club
Career statistics
Competition FC LA
Matches 70 5
Runs scored 3366 161
Batting average 28.28 32.20
100s/50s 6/16 0/1
Top score 147 61
Balls bowled 85 –
Wickets 1 –
Bowling average 45.00 –
5 wickets in innings 0 –
10 wickets in match 0 n/a
Best bowling 1/21 –
Catches/stumpings 47/- 0/-
Source: Cricinfo, 30 March 2018

Biography
HP with Arjuna

Premasiri was born on 24 February 1962 in Colombo. He studied at the Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda.[3]


Career
A rising star in cricket scene

Halambage played 70 first-class cricket matches and 5 List A matches for Ruhuna and Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club.[4]

On the left to Sir Clive Lloyd is Halambage Premasiri at Galle International Cricket Ground

Administrator

Controversial appointment

On 28 July 2016, Halambage Premasiri was appointed as the president of the Galle District Cricket Association after being secretary of the association for some time. The appointment came during a period of turmoil in the Association.[5] Sri Lanka Cricket disagreed with the appointment and ordered fresh elections for 27 August 2018.[6]

Standing Firm Against Pitch Fixing

While serving as the President of the Galle District Cricket Association he was reported to have spoken against possible probabilities of the Galle pitch fixing scandal, according to Al Jazeera.[7]

The News First Article

......On the 3rd of February 2016, Godfrey Dabare who is currently the Manager of the International Venues and Facilities at Sri Lanka Cricket, had issued a memo to Halambage Premasiri before the second test against Australia. The internal memo calls for 15 member team be appointed as staff for the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Among the 15 names, is Tharindu Indika who is implicated in the Al Jazeera documentary for pitch-fixing.

It was this memo that states the appointment of Tharindu Indika as Assistant Manager of the Galle International Cricket Stadium for the first time. In his response to Godfrey Dabare, Halambage says it would be unwise to make any changes in staff as the current staff and curator had well over 15 years in experience.

Halambage on the 25th of February 2016, calls on Godfrey Dabare to reconsider the request given the recent match-fixing allegations against Jayananda Warnaweera causing disrepute to the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

However disregarding this letter, the 15 member staff named by Godfrey Dabare was appointed through a letter signed by the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket on the 29th of February.....

https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/05/30/halambage-premasiri-homicide-and-match-fixing/


Murder

On 12 August 2016, Halambage Premasiri was murdered by two individuals in a white motor car near his residence in the Manimulla area in Ambalangoda.[8] He was shot dead by two suspects( Kande Kalasi Udaya Kumara also known as Podi Paul and another Dasun Manawadu) while he was driving home with his 12-year-old son.

Reports suggested that his controversial appointment and the legal dispute over the elections may have been factors in the murder.[9] He was killed just after the conclusion of the 2nd Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle which was organised by the Galle Cricket Association.

References
  1. "Halambage Premasiri | Sri Lanka Cricket Team | Official Cricket Profiles | PCB". www.pcb.com.pk. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. "Update: Chief suspect of the Halambage Premasiri murder arrested". Hiru News. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  3. "Demise of H. Premasiri former President of the Galle DCA | Sri Lanka Cricket". www.srilankacricket.lk. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  4. "Wisden Obituaries, 2016". Cricinfo. 20 February 2018.
  5. "Galle District Cricket association president Premasiri Halambage shot dead". 16 August 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  6. LTD, Lankacom PVT. "The Island". www.island.lk. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. "Halambage Premasiri homicide and match fixing". Sri Lanka News. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  8. "President of Galle District Cricket Association Premasiri Halambage shot dead". Hiru News. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  9. "Businessman shot dead in Ambalangoda". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
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