Businessman who bet on India winning ... dies in Gampaha

 
Kumara who laced a bet of Rs. 40000 that SL will lose ....
Loses one-half lakh by placing a bet in 2011 that SL will win

A pathetic case of news was heard from Gampaha area the day after Sri Lanka became champions at the T20 World Cup where a smalltime fruit vendor held a racing bet that Sri Lanka will lose the game.

The deceased was a 52 year old Tamil; Sandanam Pitchchai Kumara by name.In fact, he had taken a bet in the year 2011 that Sri Lanka will win the World Cup; but since India came out victors, he lost his bet which cost him one and a half lakhs.

His second wife said that from that date onwards he never placed a bet that Sri Lanka will win. Sandanam who was addicted to race-by-race had placed a bet of Rs. 40000 that India will win the World Cup by beating Sri Lanka and he had placed another bet that Mahela will be the Hero of the Match.

However, on that fateful night, when he lost both bets ... he began to perspire in cold sweat.

Sandanam who lived by carrying on a very small fruit-selling business was unable to bear the loss of such a large sum of money and what was in his mind was to win his bet in order to develop himself further in life. He was watching the match at the race-by-race bookie when as a result of the unexpected defeat of Sr Lanka, he had fainted on the spot; keeping his head on the top of a table. When this news reached his home about his condition, his wife hurried to the bookie and took him to the hospital.But even by that time Sandanam had passed away from a heart attack.

His wife who testified by giving evidence said that he had no ailment before. She also said that he had retained absolute faith in this bet. What his second wife, Mrs. K.A.S. Niroshini Kasturiaarachchi (28) said at the inquest into sudden deaths was that she was his second wife and that Sandanam who is previously married to a Tamil woman and has one child by her. She also mentioned that it is she who now looks after that child.

She further said, "I and deceased Kumar are carrying on a fruit stall at the address No. 30, Ja Ela Road, Gampaha. Kumar's legal wife Lettchumi helps us in whatever way it is possible for her. Kumar placed a bet in the year 2011 that Sri Lanka will win the World Cup; but he lost one-half lakh. 'It was not easy', he told me He felt disappointed and told me that he will never place a bet on Sri Lanka. My husband pinned a lot of faith on the Indian cricket team. Because of that very reason he had placed a bet at race-by-race that the Indian team will win. I know that. He also placed a bet that Mahela would be Man of the Match.

A certain person came and told me that  Kumar is keeping his head down at the bookie after Sri Lanka won the game. Though I went there and spoke to him, Kumar didn't answer me. I put him into a three-wheeler and took him to the General Hospital. The doctors checked on him and they said that Kumar had died. Kumar had no enemies. Innocent Kumar may have died of a heart attack".

Asst. JMO, Dr. Sampath Jayawardena of Gampaha Hospital who conducted the post-mortem on Sandanam pronounced the cause of death as a case of heart attack.