Lankans 'gave up joy' for Indians: Rajapaksa

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday hailed the returning national cricket team after their efforts in reaching the World Cup final -- which they lost to India.

Rajapaksa, flanked by his wife Shiranthi, presented players with a 5,000 rupee gold coin and a pair of gold cufflinks encrusted with colouful stones, during a ceremony at his home.

"Whether you won the Cup or not, going to the final, was a great achievement," Rajapaksa said referring to Saturday's six-wicket defeat.

"You have done us proud."

Saturday's loss was Sri Lanka's second successive World Cup runners-up finish, having lost to Australia in 2007. They won their first and only World Cup in 1996.

Rajapaksa said the defeat was a disappointment to the nation of 20 million but added that "Sri Lankans took the defeat with dignity."

"I like to tell my Indian friends that 20 million from our small country, took a step back to allow 1.2 billion Indian people to enjoy some happiness, for the second time since 1983," he said.

India won their first and only World Cup under Kapil Dev in 1983.

Rajapaksa also hailed Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for his extraordinary contribution to the national team.

Muralitharan, who turns 39 in two weeks, quit international cricket on Saturday after 19 years, with a record 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets under his belt.

During the six-week World Cup tournament, the talismanic bowler battled knee, hamstring and groin problems and was never near full fitness.

Rajapaksa, however, patted Muralitharan on his back and said he was a "great man" who soldiered on, throughout the tournament. "The country is indebted to your hardwork."

Explaining his side's loss Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara said the team was unable to break through the Indian batting line up and grab more wickets.

"We didn't take enough wickets and in the end the best team won. Yes, we are bit sore that we lost. It will take a while to get over that feeling. That's cricket," Sangakkara said.

Vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene, said his unbeaten innings of 103, during Saturday's final was no consolation for the defeat to India.

Jayawardene was the first batsman to score a century in a World Cup final to be on the losing side.

"I would swap that century anyday for a championship medal. I would have been happy scoring 10-15 runs, so long as we won the World Cup," Jayawardene said.


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