Akshu Fernando

Merennage Akshu Prihan Fernando was a Sri Lankan cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler who played for Panadura Sports Club. He was born in Panadura.

Career

Fernando made his cricketing debut in the 2008 Under-23 Tournament for Panadura, and also played in the 2009 competition. In 2010, he was selected to the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. In the match against Canada, he scored a rapid 43 from 25 balls, where Sri Lanka U-19s scored 276/6 and eventually won the match by 134 runs. Sri Lanka reached the semi finals in the tournament, where they played the semi final against Australia U-19s. However in a losing cause, Akshu made well compiling 52 off 88.
Fernando's List A debut came in the 2009–10 Premier Limited Overs Tournament competition, against Sri Lanka Air Force, scoring 5 runs. He featured in 39 first-class cricket matches representing Panadura and Ragama CC. His first-class hundred for Ragama Cricket Club came weeks before the train collision.

Accident and death

On 28 December 2018, Akshu Fernando was critically injured and was admitted to the hospital after being hit by a train following training session with his teammates at Mount Lavinia. The incident happened when he attempted to cross the railway track from the opposite direction after the first train passed by on the parallel track.
After been in a coma for seven years, Fernando died on 30 December 2025 at the age of 34.