Promising Sri Lankan wicket-keeper-batsman Kusal Mendis made the wrong headlines yesterday for the manslaughter of a 64-year-old resident in Horethuduwa, Panadura. The 25-year-old Moratuwa-born cricketer was driving his SUV early on Sunday morning; when he and the cyclist (unnamed as of now) had an unfortunate road-accident, consequently leading to the latter’s unfortunate demise.
Kusal was arrested on the same day and his SUV has also been taken into custody. Sources suggest that he has already been medically attended to, and is presently on a 24-hour police custody awaiting investigation from the local magistrate. As of now, the police have declined to comment if either of the affected parties had consumed alcohol at the time of the accident. SSP Jaliya Senaratne, the concerned police-spokesperson has assured that the authorities will reveal more information as their investigation proceeds.
Sri Lankan Daily Mirror releases video of Kusal Mendis and resident’s accident
Amidst all the ensuing tension and uncertainty, Sri Lankan media house Daily Mirror shed some light on the situation by publishing video-footage of the tragic-accident on their Twitter account. The said video features CCTV footage of Kusal’s SUV dangerously colliding with the late victim. The 24-second long clip ends with a shot showing the damage done to the cycle and Kusal’s vehicle. Here’s a Twitter link to the video of the brutal accident (viewer discretion advised).
Cricketer Kusal Mendis was arrested following an accident involving his vehicle that killed a man at Horethuduwa, Panadura early this morning #DailyMirror #NewsUpdates #lka #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/BgeF56fizf
— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) July 5, 2020
Kusal’s accident and subsequent arrest is not an isolated casualty-incident among Sri Lankan cricketers. Back in 2003, former leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarchchi had copped a four-year jail sentence for a similar vehicle manslaughter incident. Surveys estimate that each year, nearly three-thousand Sri Lankan citizens lose their lives in car accidents; highlighting the gravity of the road safety awareness situation in the island country.