A high-profile shaman who tried to end Sri Lanka's Covid-19 outbreak with “blessed” water has died of the coronavirus, reports AFP.

Eliyantha White, 48, who treated sports stars and top politicians including the country's prime minister, claimed in November he could end the pandemic in Sri Lanka and neighbouring India by pouring pots of his “blessed” water into rivers.

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

White's family said he had refused the Covid-19 vaccine.

His body was cremated at Colombo's main cemetery in line with quarantine regulations.