In recognition of Muthiah Muralitheran’s record breaking bowling achievements, the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is to be named as the Muthiah Muralitharan Cricket Stadium following a decision taken by the Kundasale Pradeshiya Saba recently.
This was stated by Eric Weerawardena, the Private Secretary of President Maithripala Sirisena in a letter addressed to Dayasiri Jayasekera, then Minister of Sports on December 21, 2016. Weerawardena has stated that Muralitharan’s father S.Muthiah had also requested this from President, Maithripala Sirisena through a letter sent by him on January 3, 2017.
Weerawardena had further requested from the then Secretary of the Ministry of Sports on January 19, 2017 to name the Pallekelle Stadium as Muthiah Muralitharan Stadium.
A similar letter relevant to this was sent by DM Swaminathan, then Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Re-settlement and Religious Affairs to the former Minister of Sports on September 17, 2017.
Muralitharan is a legend who was a product of St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota and claimed 800 Test wickets representing Sri Lanka in 133 Test matches.
In addition he played in 350 ODIs claiming 534 wickets.
Muthiah, the Proprietor of Luckyland Buiscuts said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa publicly announced that this Stadium should be named after Muthiah Muralitharan. But after sometime it was ignored by the relevant authorities.