A tough competitor and adhesive crease-occupier, Hashan Tillakaratne was an important figure in Sri Lanka's emergence as an international force. As a schoolboy he excelled at cricket, first at Isipathana College Colombo and then subsequently at DS Senanayake College. He first came to prominence with a match-saving century against England B at Galle in 1986 while still at school, and went on to make his one-day international debut against India in November of that year. A Test debut followed against Australia three years later and early on in his Test career Tillakaratne often played as batsman-wicketkeeper.

But his considerable batting potential was realised when he gave up the gloves in 1994. Tillakaratne was an important figure in Sri Lanka's emergence as an international force which culminated with a historic victory in the Wills World cup in 1996. He lost his place when Sri Lanka turned to youth after the 1999 World Cup, but heavy scoring in domestic cricket brought him back into the national team in 2001. His return bolstered the middle order and he enjoyed a prolific run with the bat until being named Test captain in April 2003. His ten-match tenure produced just one win, which clinched a series against England later in the year, and his leadership style was criticised for being too defensive. Following a 3-0 series whitewash against Australia he stepped down in March 2004, and despite remaining keen to continue his career as a batsman, he was overlooked for the subsequent tour of Zimbabwe.

On February 1 2005, the Sri Lankan board appointed him executive director of Cricket-Aid, a body formed to provide relief following the December 2004 tsunami. Subsequently he turned his considerable people skills to politics , joining the United National Party, the oldest political party in the country and was appointed as the party's organizer for Avissawella electorate in the Colombo district. He continues his association with cricket apart from working to uplift the lives of people in his electorate, serving in various committees on the SLC at the invitation of the newly appointed president, Arjuna Ranatunga. Tillakaratne was bestowed a rare honour when conferred with a honorary life membership of the MCC from March 2008 onwards. In May, he was appointed the president of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers of Sri Lanka (ACUSSL). (Charlie Austin)