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Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday honored three outstanding athletes of the country in a ceremony held at the Temple Trees.

President Rajapaksa presented awards to Sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe and cricket legends Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan for their exemplary contribution to the country.

Susanthika Jayasinghe, 34, is the only Sri Lankan athlete to win an Olympic medal. She won a bronze in women’s 200m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 but later awarded the silver after Marion Jones was stripped off the gold medal due to drug use.

Sanath Jayasuriya, 40, was honored for his 20 years of dedication to cricket since his debut on Dec 26, 1989 against Australia. He was part of the World Cup winning team in 1996.

Muttiah Muralitharan, 37, is the world’s highest wicket taker in both Test cricket and One-Day Internationals. He has been playing since 1992.

These people make us proud. They toiled for their country & brought us recognition & high regard in the world. They did not go around the world to destroy our country with lies. They did not betray our country. They did not try to hog the fame all for themselves. They were team players & acknowledged humbly the help & contribution of others. They did not ask for perks, for more & more & even more. To paraphrase, in the words of President John F. Kennedy – “They did not ask what their country could do for them, but went ahead & did what they could do for their country”. They silently & diligently went about their task & achieved success not only for themselves but for the whole country. Sanath, Muttiah, Susanthika – You are our heroes & today you are being felicitated by our National Saviour & Hero of the century, H.E. The President, Mahinda Rajapaksa. This is truly, an historic occasion, when the good people, who have worked for the welfare of our country meet. We, the people of Sri Lanka honour you all with deep affection & love for what you have so nobly done for our motherland & the history of our nation is so much the greater by being adorned by your achievements. May the Blessings of the Triple Gem, be upon you all always.

-  Comment by Sunil Jayanth Weliwitigoda in Adaderana.lk

Sources

• http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?mode=head&nid=65
• http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10/Jan1262438623CH.html