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Muthaih Muralitharan is not only a cricketer, but also a sporting ambassador who has won the hearts of all by not only through his cricketing feats which has created cricket history but his conduct and discipline on and off the field has won him accolades and made him a loveable person.

It is very rare that a person who has achieved such a high position exudes simplicity and sportsmanship. These are the rare qualities which has made him an unique personality", said the reputed broadcaster, radio commentator, TV personality sports journalist and one time coach cum cricketer Premasara Epasinghe.

Murali - that back to school feeling
Test cricket’s highest wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan was felicitated by his former school St. Anthony’s College Kandy at a ceremony held in Katugastota on Saturday. Picture shows Muralitharan lighting the traditional oil lamp in the presence of school principal Rev. Fr. Hilarian Fernando and other members of the school staff. (Picture by Gamini Ranasinghe - Dumbara Group Corr).

He made these observations at a function accorded to Muthiah Muralitharan after his return to Kandy following his breaking the bowling record of Corutney Walsh by becoming the highest wicket taker in the history of Test cricket - which is 127 years - at Rev. Fr. Rosatie Memorial hall at St. Anthony's College in Kandy.

Epasinghe recalling said that he has had very close ties with St. Anthony's College where he made his debut in school cricket for Nalanda in the fifties.

The Antonians were great hosts and they always looked forward to visit to the school by the river as they were treated with fine food and looked after them well.

Cricket matches were played in a very healthy atmosphere and we enjoyed it all. That's the tradition of the Antonians which is celebrating its Sesquicentennial Jubilee this year.

Epasinghe speaking further said for a school celebrating its 150th anniversary, their greatest product has given them a gift which cannot even dreamt of by creating a world record.

He has fine tuned the celebration with his records breaking feat of 527 wickets which has brought honour to not only to St. Anthony's College and Sri Lanka but also to Asia as he is a true son of Asia.

Muralitharan's feat cannot be described in words representing a nation which started playing Test cricket about 22 years ago and he started his Test cricket career ten years later as a little boy just out of his teens.

He said that Muralitharan's cricketing career has been not a bed of roses and there was time it lay temporarily shattered when he was called for throwing and the circumstances under which this took place the cricketing world did not approve of it.

It was on the 1995 Boxing Day cricket Test in Australia. This was something which was not totally unexpected and the then Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumathipala was well geared to meet this situation off the field with a team of legal experts while that great captain Arjuna Ranatunga assisted by his deputy Aravinda de Silva dealt with a highly charged atmosphere in an admirable manner.

The entire cricketing world watched the entire episode in shock but the Sri Lanka did not take thing lying down.

Epasinghe continued, skipper Arjuna Ranatugna like a true Sinhala lion fought for his Tamil brother cirkceter putting his own cricket career at risk.

The end result was that the men who tried to jeopardise his cricket career were made to eat humble pie thanks to the master planning of Thilanga Sumathipala and the courageous act of Arjuna Ranatugna supported by Aravinda de Silva and the entire team stood by the bowler.

But the beauty of the entire episode the person at the centre of the controversy - Muthaih Muralithran remained in the field with a smiling face and respected authority which won the hearts of even his adversaries. That was discipline at its highest and an object lesson to present day youngsters playing cricket they must follow this great cricketer.

He said that on the morning of this fateful cricket Test around 5.00 a.m. Thilanga Sumathipala, skipper Arjuna Ranatugna and Aravinda de Silva had hatched upon a plan to save Muraltharan as they were certain that something untoward was going to take place. Their objective was to save Muralitharan and the plan was executed with perfection.

Muralitharan represents the "Tri Sinhala" and the Sri Lankans are grateful to the honour that he was brought to his motherland.

This is evidenced by the large crowds which turned up to greet Muralitharan this day. It took over four hours for the motorcade to reach Katugastota from Peradeniya.

Epasinghe in conclusion of his brilliant speech which held the crowds spellbound said the whole world is following Muraltharan and should undertake the tour to Australia and the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and the Government has assured their support.

The cricket world will be with you and they have been with you both in agony and ecstasy. With nine more Test matches to be played this year that a target of 600 wickets is not beyond you.

You have displayed your respect to authority by stating I will abide by the decisions of the Cricket Board. That's great of you and may the Triple Gems bless you.