Sanga, the diplomat?

President offers departing cricket legend position as Sri Lanka’s envoy to the UK

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday entreated retiring Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara to accept a diplomatic posting as the country’s new High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

“He is a son of Sri Lanka who has earned the respect and love of a nation,” President Sirisena said, during a special felicitation ceremony for Sangakkara at the P. Saravanamuttu stadium last afternoon.

President Maithripala Sirisena hands over a special memento to the veteran Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara who ended his career yesterday at the P. Sara Oval. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Chairman Sidat Wettimuny and Dialog Axiata Group CEO and Director Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya are also present

“We don’t know how he feels, but we ask him to accept the position as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Britain,” President Sirisena said, as thousands of fans who had come to say goodbye to a cricketing hero broke into thunderous applause.

Sangakkara thanked Sri Lankan cricket fans for their devotion.

“My innings is over now. But I look forward to sitting with you all at cricket stadiums and watching our youngsters play,” he said in an emotionally-charged speech. 

Several VIPs arrived at the P. Sara stadium to bid farewell to Sangakkara who retired from international cricket yesterday, including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former cricket skipper Arjuna Ranatunga.