Sri Lankan Cricket's Big Show On Saturday (20 Jul 1996)

20 July 1996

Cricket`s big show on Saturday

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

The greatest gathering of past and present cricketing luminaries from Sri Lanka under one roof, will take place when the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka felicitates the World Cup winning cricketers at a gala dinner at Colombo Hilton Saturday.

Over 450 guests among them, six Cabinet Ministers are expected to grace this unique occasion for which the Cricket Board is spending lavishly in what is supposed to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

High on the list of invitees are Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, who will deliver the after dinner speech, Youth Affairs, Sports and Rural Development Minister S.B. Dissanayake, who will address the gathering, Cultural and Religious Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakody, who is also a past president of the Cricket Board, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who is also the president of the Matara District Cricket Association, Media, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake and Speaker K.B. Ratnayake.

Among the other invitees are past presidents and secretaries of the Cricket Board, past managers of Sri Lanka cricket teams, and all the cricketers who represented Sri Lanka from the inaugural World Cup in 1975 through to the present squad which won the World Cup in 1996 covering six World Cup tournaments (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996).

Proceedings will get underway with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the World Cup winning squad led by Arjuna Ranatunga and Sri Lanka Cricket Board president Upali Dharmadasa, who will also make the welcome address. Ranatunga is also scheduled to speak on the occasion.

Former Cricket Board president and MP Tyronne Fernando will propose a toast to the World Cup champions.

Video clippings of the Wills World Cup highlights and a special rendition of a song composed and sung in tribute of the World Cup champions by singing maestro Victor Ratnayake will be some of the features. The Police band will be attendance to liven up the atmosphere.

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