Emotional Sangakkara says being at Trinity a greater honour!

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

CRICKET: It turned to be glamorous occasion as a large crowd comprising Old Boys, present boys, members of the staff of Trinity College and cricket fans from the hill capital turned up to felicitate Sri Lanka's cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Trinity Old Boys and held at Asgiriya Stadium on Friday.

An emotional Kumar Sangakkara speaking on the occasion said that one may make money, achieve fame and recognition on one's own chosen field, but nothing is greater for him than being invited by his old school and honoured in this manner. This takes his mind back to his school days at Trinity where he spent 14 years and during those golden years the school on its part guided him, nurtured him on what his parents had inculcated into him. The school chapel, the classrooms and the environment brings back fond memories of his young days.

He said Trinity College with a rich history of 130 years and has maintained high traditions producing professionals, sportsman, statemen and others and this tradition must be maintained at any cost by the present generation before handing it over to the future generation.

He said that you must live with the spirit of Trinity and die with it. It is a spirit which has instilled in you to love others and made you a responsible citizen of the society. Trinity has no place for politics or race, caste or religion. We all lived as members of one family sharing the joys and sadness. Thats the way it has to be. He said that to be present on this great occasion and being honoured by the young an old and some of his former teachers are present today and nothing is joyous and greater for him than this occasion.

The Principal of the School W.C.K.Ariyaratne, addressing the gathering said Kumar Sangakkara was one of the finest products to come out of Trinity College where shone both in studies and in sports. He captained the school cricket team and was awarded the prestigious Cricket 'Lion', the Ryde Gold Medal for the Best Allround Student and was also the Senior Prefect. He excelled in studies securing, three A's at the G.C.E. Advance Level Examination to gain entrance to the University. He was a model student and proved in no uncertain terms how both studies and sports could go to together.

Starting as a reserve in the schools under 13 'B' team, by sheer dint of hard work and performance he went on captain the school cricket team and also represented Sri Lanka's junior cricket team whilst still being a student at Trinity. He has done the school proud.The Vote of Thanks was delivered by former Sri Lanka ruggerite and Rugby Lion and the present President of the Trinity Old Boys Union Brigadier Jupana Jayawardena.