Sangakkara is CEAT Peoples Player of the Year for 2nd time

Eloquent top order batsman Kumar Sangakkara walked away with the coveted CEAT Peoples Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year at the star-studded 2011 CEAT Sri Lanka Cricket Awards which honoured the country’s top performing international and domestic cricketers.

Sangakkara, whose performances with the bat and the gloves have won the hearts of cricket enthusiasts in Sri Lanka, secured the highest number of votes from fans via SMS and the online voting portal.

Strike bowler Lasith Malinga was placed second in the popular vote, while Vice Captain Angelo Mathews, star batsman Mahela Jayawardene and national Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan came third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Besides the CEAT Peoples Player of the Year, 80 awards were presented at the gala ceremony supported for the third consecutive year by CEAT Kelani Holdings.

Speaking at the event CEAT Kelani Holdings Managing Director and CEO N. C. Venugopal said: “As a leading tyre brand that has won the trust of users of all categories of vehicles on the roads of Sri Lanka, we are proud to honour a Peoples Champion. Tonight’s recipient of this award is a true champion, who has won admiration and respect both on and off the field.”

He added that it was a pleasure for CEAT Kelani Holdings to partner Sri Lanka Cricket to acknowledge the passion, spirit, commitment, and skill that the country’s cricketers have displayed.

Besides cricket, CEAT also supports motor racing in Sri Lanka and is the title sponsor of the CEAT-SLARDAR Championship.