President to felicitate Murali and team

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will felicitate world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan and the Sri Lanka cricket team at a special reception to be held at Temple Trees tomorrow (7).

The President will present a special memento to mark the historic feat of Muralitharan, who on Monday became the world’s highest ever wicket taker in Test cricket.

The Lankan team and Sri Lanka Cricket officials will be hosted to a tea party at the Temple Trees tomorrow evening. The sports-loving President was among the first to congratulate Muralitharan when the spin wizard erased Australian Shane Warne’s world mark of 708 scalps.

He took time off his busy schedule to personally telephone the Lankan master spinner and wish him.

While commending the determination, courage and fighting qualities of Muralitharan, President Rajapaksa said the champion bowler is an example to all communities and a proud Lankan product.

“You have done wonders to mark Sri Lanka prominently on the world sports map. While congratulating you on this great achievement, I wish you all success in future matches,” the President said in a congratulatory message.

The Government also issued a cricket ball-shaped special commemorative stamp and first day cover to mark the historic occasion.

The 35-year-old veteran spinner will also be presented a brand new car worth Rs. eight million for this record breaking feat.

President Rajapaksa, a versatile sportsman during his school career, has shown a keen interest in developing sports. He was the President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka when star woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe won Sri Lanka’s first ever IAAF World Championship medal, a silver, way back in 1997 in Athens.

- Dinesh