Halambage Premasiri, also known as H.G. Premasiri (24 February 1964 – 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.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1964-02-24)24 February 1964 Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 12 August 2016(2016-08-12) (aged 52) Manimulla, Ambalangoda, Southern Province, Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off-break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ruhuna cricket team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Singha Sports Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Cricinfo, 30 March 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Premasiri was born on 24 February 1964 in Colombo. He studied at the Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda.[3]
Halambage played 70 first-class cricket matches and 5 List A matches for Ruhuna and Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club.[4]
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]
While serving as the President of the Galle District Cricket Association he was reported to have connections with the Galle pitch fixing scandal, according to Al Jazeera.[7]
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 the unknown suspects 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.