Rider drowns during international mountain bike race in Sri Lanka

A man taking part in a mountain bike race in Sri Lanka drowned when he fell into a river during the event.

The rider, who has not been named and came from Nepal, fell into the Mahaweli river at Kuda Oya, some 230 kilometres south east of the country’s capital, Colombo, reports AFP.

Sri Lankan Airlines, which organised the five-day event called Rumble In The Jungle, cancelled the race upon learning of the rider’s death, which happened on Wednesday.

They said his team had been leading the race at the time.

A police spokesman said: "We have recovered the body from a nearby reservoir."

According to AFP, some 39 riders were taking part in the race, mainly from outside Sri Lanka, and including entrants from the UK.