Senior Sri Lanka coach Lionel Mendis dies aged 80

Senior Sri Lanka coach Lionel Mendis dies aged 80: Lionel Mendis popularly known as the father of cricket coaching in Sri Lanka, passed away on Friday at the age of 80, after a long illness. Mendis was a product of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and Richmond College, Galle. He was world-famous for his brilliant coaching abilities.

He coached over dozen thousand cricketers during his career including the likes of Arjuna Ranatunga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Dharmasena, Thilan Samaraweera and Jehan Mubarak.

Lionel Mendis received the ICC centenary Award (1909-2009) in recognition of his outstanding service to Sri Lanka Cricket in 2009. He was also a recipient of the Gold Award for cricket coaching at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sri Lanka Cricket in 1998.

In 2000, Lionel authored the first ever cricket coaching manual in Sinhala ” Cricket Huruwa” a complete guidance for players as well as cricket coaches, described by many as a “Masterpiece”.

His coaching career at NCC started in 1982 and since then every parent in Sri Lanka wanted their kids to learn the basics of Cricket from Lionel Mendis.

Even in his late forties he played cricket and captained the Nondescript cricket Club Division III team in the Daily news Trophy Tournament for 3 years from 1982 to 1984. In 1969, he was transferred to Nalanda college, Colombo. At Nalanda, he taught science and in the afternoon worked as the Junior Cricket Coach. Furthermore, he was warden of the college hostel.

Lionel Mendis sir, will be a great loss for cricket in Sri Lanka. One of the best coaches Sri Lanka ever had! pic.twitter.com/JUWCYGovTb

— Arjuna Ranatunga (@ArjunaRanatunga) October 9, 2015

Sad to hear my first coach Mr. Lionel Mendis passed away last night. He was the best teacher I had. May you attain Nirvana sir..

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) October 9, 2015