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| Sunday, 23 May 2004 |
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An emotion-filled Murali thanks all those who helped him in good and difficult times by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr. One of the biggest gatherings ever seen in this beautiful hill city town of Kandy thronged to welcome the record breaker for the highest number of wickets in the history of Tests - Muttaih Muralitharan when he was accorded a hero's welcome in a series of reception organised by the Central Province Cricket Association and the Kandy District Association with the blessings of Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday in Kandy. Crackers were lit all along the route to St. Anthony's College, Katugastota and the crowds cheered vociferously. The milling crowds lined along the streets, perched on roof tops and trees to get a glimpse of the cricketing hero shouted "Well done Murali, Keep it up Murali" as they kissed the ground, danced on the street as a part of their happiness and rejoicing. Muralitharan was received near the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya by the Governor of the Central Province Monty Gopallawa, President of the Central Province CA, the General Secretary CPCA Janaka Pathirana and the Treasurer Roland Perera and Vice President Dr. R. Mahendran and his first coach Sunil Fernando amongst a large crowd. From there he proceeded in a Mobitel truck flanked by Tilina Tennakoon, Janaka Pathirana and Sunil Fernando. All along he was cheered. He was first introduced to the officials of the Ministry of Sports of the Central Province and his first stop was at Kingswood College where he was welcomed by the old boys, staff and the students. The Principal Ranjith Chandrasekera presented a souvenir in appreciation of his cricketing feats. His next stop was at Girls High School, Kandy where he was welcomed by the students and staff. After several small 'breaks', his stop was at Vinayagar Hindu Temple at Katukelle where a special service was conducted to bless him. Next the Kandy Police headed by DIG Nimal Mediwake, SSP Gunatillake Bandara, ASP Jayantha Wickramasinghe, HQI Edmund Mahendra greeted and garlanded him. At the clock tower junction, the Kandy Municipal Council headed by Deputy Mayor L. B. Aluwihare, MMC's Raja Pushpakumara, Hafiz Marikkar, Illahi Abdeen, Malar Selvam and many other members of the Council were given an opportunity to greet the hero. At the entrance to Yatinuwara Veediya two cricket playing clubs from the hill capital Kandy Youths CC and Kandy CC were afforded an opportunity to garland and present mementos to Muralitharan. Next stop was near St. Sylvester's College where the College band was in attendance while the Principal S. Meetiyagoda garlanded him. The next stop was near Trinity College where he was accorded a welcome with garlands. Janashakthi and Mobitel Organisations too greeted him with garland before the stop at Vidyartha College where reception continued. At. St. Anthony's College, Muralitharan was received by the old boys, present boys and the members of staff. It was a wonderful return to Muralitharan with a 'archway of bats' leading to the College Hall where the function was held. An emotional Muttiah Muralitharan, his eyes glistened with tears of joy, addressing the crowd said "It is wonderful to be back in school which brings back memories of my young days. Recalling his cricketing days, he said once he was playing softball cricket in the school compound and the then junior coach Sunil Fernando asked Murali 'Why don't you come for practices and play hard ball cricket'. That was the day which changed my cricketing career. I attended practices at the behest of Mr. Sunil Fernando and soon made it to the junior teams and later it was Sunil Fernando who requested me to bowl spinners," Murali said. Muralitharan continued that it is wonderful to see so many people behind in times of victory or anguish. He paid a great tribute to former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, President of the Cricket Board Thilanga Sumathipala for standing by him in the hour of need. Aravinda de Silva, also helped him a great deal. When Darrel Hair called him for 'throwing' first in 1995 and later in 1998, the entire cricket fraternity stood by him and the then President Thilanga Sumathipala had planned to deal with the situation both on the field and off the field and what took place in history and he came out of the difficult situation unscathed thanks to Arjuna Ranatunga, Thilanga Sumathipala and Aravinda de Silva. Muralitharan said others who have helped him are his parents, the staff of St. Anthony's College, his club Tamil Union CC, Ranjith Fernando and Duleep Mendis. He is grateful to all these people for what they have done for him for saving his cricketing career at different times. He will abide by any instructions given by the Cricket Board as there appears to be some controversy with the type of delivery he is delivering at present. His next objective is to play in the next world cup and to help to Sri Lanka to win again. President of the Central Province Cricket Association Tilina Tennakoon said that he has been a member of the Central Provincial Council, Parliament and several other bodies but he has never been choked with emotion as yesterday to see the milling crowds who showed their gratitude to their cricketing hero, who has glittered out lives and put Kandy in the map of world cricket. He had known Murali from his younger days and he has not changed one bit, that the greatness in him which others should try to emulate him. May he be blessed with strength and courage to do greater deeds and for a great bowl who is in his peak, a 1000-wicket target in Tests is not an impossibility. Rev. Fr. Hilarian Fernando, Principal St. Anthony's College said that the day is a great for the Antonians though the school is closed for holidays. This year the school celebrated the 150th anniversary and Muralitharan made it a triple celebration by reaching his 500th Test wicket in Kandy and the same year created a world record by capturing 527 wickets. It is the hand of Lord which made him reach these two targets in the year of out 150th anniversary. Rev. Fr. Hilarian Fernando said that Muralitharan was a perfect Antonian and he had his entire education at St. Anthony's College and right through he has been a boarder and excelled in many sports and made the best use of the opportunities which was provided to him. Above all he was a well disciplined student who was loved by his teachers and his fellows. President of the St. Anthony's OBA Dayananda de Alwis said the Antonians are proud of the feats of Muralitharan who does not require repeating here. He is now our national treasure who must be safeguarded and protected. The word Murali is today is everyone's lips and we as Antonians are proud of it. Rev. Fr. Stephen Abrahams, former Principal of St. Anthony's College said Muralitharan has been always a man with a vision and greatness was not thrust on but he worked his way to achieve it. He set a goal which he has now reached. |
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