The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka announces with great sadness the tragic death of Mr. Fritzroy De Mel, the Assignment Officer of Umpires of the BCCSL. He met with an untimely death on the evening of the 9th of January, while returning home to Moratuwa after work.

Fritzroy served as the Assignments Officer of the BCCSL from 1992, and was a dedicated, devoted and conscientious officer who believed in performing his duties to near perfection. He was a very senior umpire, having been a member of the BCCSL's Panel of Umpires as well as a member of the Association of Cricket Umpires until his retirement from active umpiring in the mid eighties. He became an umpire in the late 1950's and stood in many important games, officiating in Unofficial Test Matches, Representative Games, and First Class Matches. He possessed a thorough knowledge of the laws of cricket and served as an instructor both for the BCCSL and the ACU, imparting his knowledge to others.

Fritzroy continued to serve the cause of umpiring by being actively connected to the BCCSL and the ACU. He was a Vice President of the ACU, which elevated him to a Life Member as recognition for his dedicated service. Fritzroy was also well known in the drama circle, having acted in several plays. He was earlier employed in the Survey Department and later at the Mahaweli Authority. He also represented the Survey Department at cricket.

Cortege leaves 127, Lakshapathiya Road, Off De Mel Road, Moratuwa, for burial at the Anglican Cemetery in Angulana at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the 12th of January, 2002.

May he rest in peace.

© BCCSL