October 18
Bandula Warnapura passes away
Sri Lanka’s first Test captain Bandula Warnapura passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. He was diagnosed with high sugar levels, hindering blood circulation and further, had been admitted to Hospital.
Bandula captained during Sri Lanka’s maiden Test against England in Colombo in 1982 and went on to play three Tests and 12 ODIs.
Bandula led Sri Lanka to victory against India during the Cricket World Cup on June 16, 1979.
But, he had to suffer for a life ban for touring apartheid South Africa with a rebel team in 1982/83.
He never joined back as player, but in 1991, Bandula re-joined cricket as the national coach and administrator of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board.
He was appointed as the Director of Coaching in 1994 and later in 2001 he was given the post as the Director of Operations, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Bandula also worked as an ICC match referee and an umpire.
