Arjuna put Sri Lanka on the World map (17 August 1999)
"Arjuna Ranatunga put little Sri Lanka on the World Map" was the cry of all those who spoke at the felicitation ceremony for former cricket Captain Arjuna Ranatunga at the Trans Asia Hotel and organised by the Ananda College Old Boys Association and
17-Aug-1999
17 August 1999
Arjuna put Sri Lanka on the World map
Pelham Juriansz
"Arjuna Ranatunga put little Sri Lanka on the World Map" was the cry
of all those who spoke at the felicitation ceremony for former
cricket Captain Arjuna Ranatunga at the Trans Asia Hotel and
organised by the Ananda College Old Boys Association and the Old
Anandians Sports Club on Sunday.
Arjuna, in National Dress was accompanied to the dais by the Members
of the Old Anandians Sports Club and Principal. T. B. Damunupola.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Ranjith Cabraal, president of the OBA,
said that Anandians are people with a proud and noble tradition who
had withstood the ravages of time. "We salute you, Arjuna and we
cannot forget what you have done for the game of cricket. Everyone
has their weaknesses and strengths but we Anandians need to go
forward. We are proud of you for having led Sri Lanka to cricketing
glory. You have bestowed all Anandians young and old with glory.
Professor J. B. Dissanayake speaking about Arjuna said that his
parents have named him after the famous warrior in the Mahabarata
Arjuna who won the hearts of many maidens with his bravery in battle.
Little would Arjuna's parents have realised that their son will
emulate the feats of that great warrior on the cricket field. Because
of the World Cup win he put Sri Lanka on the World Map.
He learn all this at Ananda his alma mater. He needs to share the
lessons learnt in school with the younger generation." Professor
Dissanayake.
Deva Rodrigo speaking on behalf of the old boy's Association said
that the old boys were very keen on felicitating Arjuna soon after
the World Cup. This ceremony is to celebrate what Arjuna Ranatunga
has achieved in life. He has brought recognition and pride to his
school and the country.
He scored the first half century for Sri Lanka and the first century
and first double century were also scored by Old Anandians Sidath
Wettimuny and Brendon Kuruppu respectively. Sanath Jayasuriya,
Arjuna's good friend scored the first triple century. Ananda was set
up for people who come from the villages.
Samantha Rajapakse, the Secretary of the Old Anandians Sports Club
said that Arjuna Ranatunga is indeed one of the greatest cricketers
of our lifetime. When tracing his past it is difficult to know where
to start from. In 1974 he led the Anandian Under 12 team to be All
Island Champions. In 1978 in the Under 15 team he scored 315 not out
and took a match bag of 11 wickets to make an early entry into the
Wisden Book of records. He won the Best Allrounder, Best Batsman and
Best Bowler awards. In 1978 at the age of 14 he began one of the
greatest careers in school cricket history. He also captained the
Gampaha Cricket team. In an International Career that began in 1981
when he represented the Schools side to England under Navin de Silva
he started what was to be an enterprising career. In 1985 he led the
Under 23 team. And in 1982 he became the youngest Test cricketer to
represent Sri Lanka against the Englishmen. As at May 1999 his
highest score was 135 and he had represented the country in 269 one
day matches with a highest score of 131 amassing 7,000 runs and
taking 79 wickets.
In 1996 under Arjuna's captaincy a Sri Lanka team climbed the Everest
of cricket when they won the World Cup. This was indeed the greatest
sporting achievement by the country since M.J.M. Latif won the World
Billiads and Snooker Championship in 1973. This is indeed a short
summary of a great career in cricket.
Thereafter a letter from the Victorian Old Anandian Association in
Australia was read out in which they had spelled out how proud thy
are to be Anandians after what Ranatunga had achieved.
Dr. Cabraal said that Arjuna deserves gold but we can give him only
silver. A memento was given to Arjuna by H.S. Perera, President of
the Old Anandian Sports Club.
Arjuna speaking on the occasion thanked the Old Anandians for the
splendid function they had put up for him. He thanked the College of
which he was a member from 1970-1982, and for the lessons he learnt
to become a gentleman. He thanked the Principals, Colonel G.W.
Rajapakse, T.B. Damunupola and coaches Lionel Mendis, Anurudha
Polonowita, and all teachers and his parents, family and his wife for
all the support he received from them.
Source :: The Daily News (https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/)