Sri Lankan shaman dies of coronavirus after refusing a vaccine

Sri Lankan shaman who claimed he had ‘special powers’ and could end the country’s covid outbreak by pouring his ‘blessed’ water in to rivers dies of coronavirus after refusing a vaccine

• Eliyantha White, 48, claimed ‘blessed’ water could end pandemic in Sri Lanka
• High-profile shaman fell ill with the virus earlier this month and died this week
• The spiritual healer had treated sports stars and top politicians including the PM

A high-profile Sri Lankan shaman who claimed he could end the country’s covid outbreak with ‘blessed’ water has died of the virus, his family confirmed on Thursday.

Eliyantha White, 48, claimed in November he could end the pandemic in Sri Lanka and neighbouring India by pouring pots of his ‘blessed’ water into rivers.

The spiritual healer treated sports stars and top politicians including the country’s prime minister, and his family said he had refused the coronavirus vaccine.

He fell ill with the virus earlier this month and was taken to hospital in Colombo where his condition worsened and he died on Wednesday.

High-profile shaman Eliyantha White, 48, (pictured) who claimed he could end the pandemic in Sri Lanka with ‘blessed’ water fell ill with the virus and died on Wednesday

Sri Lanka’s former health minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi endorsed the water treatment, but was infected with covid two months later and ended up in a hospital intensive care unit.

She was later demoted, and lost her portfolio, but remains in the cabinet.

Mr White attracted international attention in 2010 when legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar publicly thanked him for treating a knee injury, saying it helped him hit the first-ever one-day international double century against South Africa.

In a 2010 interview with news agency AFP, he claimed he had ‘special powers’ since the age of 12.

He has since treated other Indian cricket stars, including Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra. 

His body was cremated at Colombo’s main cemetery on Thursday in line with quarantine regulations.

 The spiritual healer treated sports stars and top politicians including the country’s prime minister, and his family said he had refused the coronavirus vaccine. Pictured: Buddhist monks perform the last rites during the funeral of Mr White

He fell ill with the virus earlier this month and was taken to hospital in Colombo where his condition worsened and he died this week. Pictured: Hearse carrying the coffin of Mr White

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was among politicians to have consulted Mr White, said on Twitter: ‘His legacy will continue to live through all the lives, he touched and healed of various ailments.’

But mainstream doctors described his as a fraud and Ayurveda physicians rejected his claims – even though the shaman said he used methods from the 3,000-year-old Indian medical tradition.

Sri Lanka’s total coronavirus deaths exceeded 12,000 with more than half a million people infected so far.

Doctors say the real toll is at least twice as high and authorities have resorted to mass cremations to clear bodies piling up at hospitals and morgues. 

The Sri Lankan shaman claimed in November he could end the pandemic in Sri Lanka and neighbouring India by pouring pots of his ‘blessed’ water into rivers

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