Basketball: 27th MBSL League postponed after Ganewatte's demise

Sport

The Mercantile Services Basketball Association (MSBA) has decided to postpone the ongoing 27th League Tournament indefinitely after the unexpected and sudden demise of Rienzi Ranil Ganewatte.

Ganewatte (39) representing Hayleys Group suddenly collapsed soon after scoring against the Airport and Aviation in their League match played at the Henry Pedris Court last Friday (16) evening.

Ganewatte was making his way to the back court when he collapsed and was later pronounced dead.

It was later revealed at the postmortem that sudden block of blood supply to his brain caused by two narrowed veins of the heart.

The 6 foot 5' centre player was one of the key players for his Mercantile team, Hayleys Group who was making their debut in the tournament.

Ganewatte was born on April 23, 1978 and was a alumni of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo where he played basketball from the Under-13 age group to the top.

He went on to represent Sri Lanka Schools in 1996 and 1997 as a centre before joining Colombo Bulls BC.

Ganewatte went on to represent Sri Lanka National team in 2001 and was also key player for the Western Province team for many years.

During his 12-year career in the Mercantile Tournament, Ganewatte represented Metropolitan Group, his first employer, before joining the Hayleys Group.

His funeral took place on Monday (19) at the Thalahena Cemetery in Malabe.

Comments

Still No Comments Posted.

Leave Comments

Most Reviews

May 31, 2025

- 486 - 0

Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga , more than a pilot, a guardian remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred

June 2, 2025

- 454 - 0

National Tax week launched

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) backed by the Excise and Customs Department today launched a fresh drive to collect taxes including some Rs.780 billion listed as ‘collectable defaults’.

June 2, 2025

- 363 - 0

SriLankan Airlines’ new A330 Fleet to perform low fly past over Colombo on Wed.

May 30, 2025

- 262 - 0

In Pix: Weather situation in Colombo

June 3, 2025

- 199 - 0

Krishanthi Kumaraswami convicts FR dismissed by SC

The Supreme Court today unanimously dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by five convicts in the 1996 Krishanthi Kumaraswamy abduction, rape, and murder case.