Sanath Jayasuriya endorses President Mahinda Rajapaksa [VIDEO]

Renowned Cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya yesterday said that it was an obligation of the people of Ambalangoda as well as of the entire country to cast their votes on January 26 for President Mahinda Rajapaksa who created a peaceful and fearless environment for people to travel around and live in safely.

He made this observation at a rally held in Ambalanagoda appearing in a political stage for the first time.

Jayasuriya addressing the rally said it was a moment of pleasure to address the people in Ambalangoda in a political stage for the first time.

Commending the President’s brave measure to eliminate LTTE terrorism from the country, Jayasuriya stated that he travelled from Matara to Colombo and back in fear for life before the LTTE was eradicated from the country.

He also stated that President brought relief to the nation and now any cricket team in the world was willing to come to Sri Lanka to play. The time is ripe for the tourism industry as well.

(Source)

SLC forgets, but President congratulates Jayasuriya

Veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya had a surprise telephone call from President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday congratulating the senior cricketer on completing 20 years of international cricket. However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) snubbed the cricketer as it took no efforts to mark the occasion.

The President had called up the cricketer in New Delhi yesterday morning where he was preparing to play the fifth and final One-Day International against India.

But surprisingly none of SLC’s highly paid officials or the appointed Interim Committee members took the trouble to call up the cricketer.

SLC has been quick to draft and distribute media releases, even when its chairman D.S. de Silva distributed cricket goods, but surprisingly had overlooked the important milestone.

Only Javed Miandad and Sachin Tendulkar have represented their countries in ODI cricket for more than 20 years.

Jayasuriya first played for Sri Lanka in 1989 on Boxing Day when he appeared in a One-Day International at the MCG against Australia, and since then, has been ever-present in the Sri Lankan team and went on to captain the side for four years.

Playing under Arjuna Ranatunga, Jayasuriya’s debut was inauspicious as he was dismissed by Merv Hughes for just three runs, but he went on to have a successful international career, the highlight of which was being named the ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the 1996 World Cup.

(Source)