Former Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Akshu Fernando passed away on Tuesday (30), drawing tributes from across the cricketing community for a career and life cut tragically short.

International cricket commentator Roshan Abeysinghe confirmed the news in a tribute, describing Fernando as a talented cricketer and a ”cheerful, friendly and thorough gentleman.”

Fernando, who represented Sri Lanka at the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, had been in a coma following a devastating accident at an unprotected railway crossing near Mount Lavinia beach on December 28 2018. 

At the time of the accident, Fernando was regarded as one of the most promising young cricketers of his generation.