The Judicial Medical Officer of the Kandy National Hospital, Dr. Prabath Senasinghe, has given an open verdict on the death of former Test cricketer Jayananda Warnaweera and ordered that body parts be sent to the Government Analyst for examination.
Investigations have revealed that a bottle containing a poisonous substance was found next to his bed. Warnaweera is believed to have died in his sleep at his home in the Bokalawela area of Ambatenna, Katugastota, on the 17th.
His wife, Janaki Abeysinghe, told police that he had gone to bed the previous night and had not woken up until around 10.00 a.m. the following day.
The post-mortem examination was conducted at the Kandy National Hospital on the 17th, after which the body was handed over to Warnaweera’s wife for final rites. The Kandy National Hospital Coroner ordered that the body be buried, not cremated, as samples were to be sent to the Government Analyst for a report.
Warnaweera’s funeral took place at the Mahaiyawa Cemetery in Kandy yesterday (18) at 3.00 p.m.
Jayananda Warnaweera was 64 years old at the time of his death. He represented Sri Lanka in 10 Test matches and 6 One-Day Internationals and later served as the curator of the Galle International Cricket Stadium following his retirement from cricket.
