Speaking to the media in Colombo, the minister said Thajudeen, who died purportedly in a road accident, was in fact murdered.

The 28-year-old Thajudeen’s burnt body was found in his car at Narahenpita town in the early hours of 17 May 2012.

On the previous day, he had gone to a friend’s home for a party.

The then police spokesman Ajith Rohana claimed Thajudeen had died after his car crashed into a wall and caught fire.

In the meantime, a person came to Kirulapone police and handed a purse, which eventually was found to be Thajudeen’s, saying he found it in the road in Kirulapone.

However, the previous regime did not carry out a proper investigation.

The new government is investigating after receiving a complaint that Yoshitha Rajapaksa, a son of the former president, was connected to Thajudeen’s death, as the two had a dispute over a girlfriend.

Thajudeen, who was vice captain of the national team and played for the Havelocks, was voted the most popular ruggerite in Sri Lanka in 2009.