COLOMBO (News 1^st) – An investigation has been launched into the death of a British rugger player who arrived in the country for a friendly encounter.

A team of 22 British Rugby players has arrived in Sri Lanka to participate in a friendly Rugby tournament. The event was held on the 12^th May at a stadium in Colombo and afterward the players had attended a dinner held at the sports complex.

After the dinner, players had come to the hotel where they were staying and later had gone to a nightclub in Kollupitiya, the police said.

According to the police, the players had arrived at the hotel around 4 AM and after a while, two of the players had been hospitalized as they developed a breathing difficulty. One of them died while receiving treatment at the hospital. The deceased player has been identified as Harvard Thomas Andrew, aged 26.

The other player who is in a critical state has been identified as 27-year-old Bett Thomas Reid.

• President Biden joins striking autoworkers’ picket line
• Anti Terror Bill must be withdrawn immediately – Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke on NEWSLINE
• Why have India-Canada tensions worsened? Kusum Wijetilleke on Newsline
• Watch a Special episode of The People’s Platform. IMF in Sri Lanka : Beyond Ticking Boxes
• Terrorists found safe haven in Canada – Sabry