Jayasuriya named Sri Lankan of the Year (29 Dec 1997)

Monday 29 December 1997

Jayasuriya named Sri Lankan of the Year

Daily News

Sri Lanka's business and leisure magazine LMD (Lanka Monthly Digest) has nominated cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya as its 'Sri Lankan of the Year' for 1997.

A portrait of the 'Master Blaster' adorns the cover page of LMD's January issue which will be out on New Year's Day.

"Jayasuriya is perceptive of the essential fickleness of both media and the public, and he is aware that it is his cricketing prowess that underlies his popularity," states LMD in making Jayasuriya their choice.

"I never really had a role model (but greatly admire team mate Aravinda de Silva). I never sought to emulate any great star. I just played my game. Besides, the first Test match I watched, was the first I played," reveals Jayasuriya in an exclusive interview with LMD.

"What seems like blitzkrieg to most of us, is to Sanath, natural game. His attitude even on the cricket field is to take things as they come. He never steers away from the 'middle path' " said the magazine.

"Sanath values hard work and truly believes that success comes with hard work. He is very much the Aquarian that he is, his attitude toward life being one of openness and acceptance," said LMD.

Jayasuriya became the first Sri Lankan to make a triple century in Test cricket and during the calendar year was the first cricketer to top 1,000 runs in Tests. He also achieved the feat in the abbreviated game as well, thus completing an excellent double for the year.

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