ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Vol. 42 - No 07
Sports

Sri Lanka President felicitates Murali

By Bipin Dani

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa felicitated Sri Lanka's great off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan last night at the President’s House in Kandy.

St. Anthony's College in Kandy (Sri Lanka) has produced renowned personalities including scientist (Professor Malik Peiris), doctors, engineers but Muralitharan is a special name in its history, according to the present Rector of the College Fr. Titus Rodrigo.

Speaking to this scribe over his mobile from Kandy, he said, "Our College has produced several outstanding personalities. Murali is one of them. We are proud of his achievement. We are proud of him and now await his world record".

The bowler completed 700 Test wickets yesterday. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is certain to honour him as well.

"He has been doing enough charity work for our college. We shall felicitate him when he breaks Shane Warne's world record".Rodrigo was not the head of the school when Muralidharan was studying at St.Anthony’s Katugastota. But Fr. Stephen Ebrahim who retired some twelve years ago as a Rector has fond memories of Muralitharan. Speaking to this scribe over the telephone from Haputale (some four hours drive from Kandy), the 75 year-old ex-head of the school said, "Murali's brother Shashidharan was a good basketball player. Our school has seen many rugby, tennis and chess players but Murali is greatest of all". "He was not a bright student but an average one. He never failed in any class. He is a man who likes to accept challenges".
The ex-head of the school has not been watching all matches Muralitharan play. "But I am aware about his achievement and am sure he would surely create a world record sooner or later. He is not far away for it".

Murali has not forgotton his former head of the school. "He invited me to his wedding in India,but I could not make it", said Fr. Stephen Ebrahim.

 
Top to the page
E-mail


Copyright 2007 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.