President To Honor Sri Lankan Cricketers (1 Nov 1996)

1 November 1996

President to honour Sri Lankan cricketers

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has conferred Sri Lanka`s highest national honour `Deshamanya` on Arjuna Ranatunga, Captain of the national cricket team and Duleep Mendis, former captain and team manager.

Prolific runmakers Vice Captain Aravinda de Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekeratne, Asanka Gurusinghe and world record holder Sanath Jayasuriya will be bestowed with the title `Deshabandu`.

Sri Lankan-born Australian resident Davenall Whatmore, the team coach, will be conferred with the honour `Sri Lanka Ramya`.

The cricketers, members of the team which became the world champions by beating Australia in the World Cup final in Lahore this year, have been honoured for their commitment to improve Lanka`s cricketing prowess, a statement from the Presidential Secretariat said.

The President will confer the honours on the cricketers at a special ceremony Saturday at 4.p.m. at Temple Trees, Colombo.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)