Death of Jiffrey Abdeen, ANCL sports correspondent

by Hafiz Marikar

Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy sports correspondent for the Lake House group for over two decades passed away at the age of 70 at the Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital yesterday after a long illness.

Abdeen started off as a special correspondent for Hatton before being appointed as sports correspondent for Kandy.

He was a versatile sports writer and contributed lavishly towards sports played in Kandy. He was very fluent in his English and his indepth coverage of rugby matches was widely read and much appreciated by the English speaking community. He also contributed to the news desk as well thus underlying his talent to be an all round journalist.

Abdeen never missed an important rugby or cricket match played in Kandy or any other sport. He also wrote freely on hockey, golf, motor racing and horse racing during the Nuwara Eliya season.Educated at St Sylvester's College, Abdeen was also a qualified cricket umpire.

He leaves behind his wife Jazeem and two children Minhaz and Mizra.

His funeral took place at the Dehiwela Muslim burial grounds last night.