Malinga's world record inspires alma mater

Lasith Malinga's world-record four wickets in four balls against South Africa during the World Cup has inspired his former school, Mahinda College in Galle, to hold a felicitation ceremony in honour of its past cricketers who have gone on to play for Sri Lanka.

The ceremony, to be held June 2 at the college hall, will pay tribute to several former and current Sri Lankan cricketers including Somachandra de Silva, Jayananada Warnaweera, Athula Samarasekera, Marvan Atapattu, Upul Chandana, Malinga and the late DLS de Silvam who played in the 1979 World Cup.

Several other cricketers in the pre-Test era will also be felicitated, namely the late DD Jayasinghe, Somasiri Ambawatte, WB Bennett, DP de Silva, PHKH Ranasinghe, AJ Samasekera, Gajaba Pitigala, Mihiri Egodage, Kamal Dharmasiri, Neil de Silva, Dileepa Wickremasinghe and Upul Sumathipala.

Sumathipala, a member of the organizing committee, stated that the school wanted to honour its past cricketers for some time and Malinga's record-breaking feat precipitate plans to hold a ceremony. He said that Malinga will be presented a special award.

Sumathipala also stated that Champaka Ramanayake, a former Sri Lanka fast bowler and head of Sri Lanka Cricket's fast bowling academy, will receive a special award as the coach who discovered and nurtured Malinga to become an international fast bowler. All the cricket coaches who served Mahinda College in its 115-year history will also be felicitated.