Lanka rejoices in win over its `own imperial master’

Last week, the prose and ballads got even better as Arjuna Ranatunga and his team returned home after winning by 10 wickets in the one-off Test at Lords.

The tributes paralleled those the team received after it won the World Cup in 1996.

“Breathes there a man, woman or child with soul so dead, who had not been moved by the deeds of doughty men Arjuna has led,” wrote the independent Island newspaper as it summed up the emotions of most Sri Lankans.

At least one man was reported to have died in the central hill town of Kandy due to a heart failure, unable to handle Sri Lanka’s victory.

“A heart attack caused by excessivehappiness,” an inquest was told, the state-owned Daily News reported. R G Ranasinghe’s wife told an inquiry that her husband was ecstatic over the team’s victory and complained of chest pain.

The triumph also fuelled an acute sense of patriotism.

“For Sri Lankans, beating England means much more than beating any other cricketing nation,” the Island continued.

“Firstly, they were our imperial masters who taught us the game. And what better feeling can you get than outclassing your own master at his own game?” the Island added.

In Kandy, tens of thousands of people thronged the streets to welcome a local confectioner’s son who spun a web around the English batsmen to claim 16 wickets and bring Sri Lanka victory.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan returned home a hero, riding an open car and lost in garlands as ministers and officials made a beeline to shake his hand.

“We saw history being re-written when… People of Kandy turned out on Friday to greet their conquering hero MuttiahMuralitharan some 183 years after the invading Englishmen had captured Kandy,” The Sunday Times said in an editorial.

The British colonial rulers defeated the Kandy king in 1815 to stamp their authority over Sri Lanka, which eventually gained independence in 1948.England coach David Lloyd caused controversy during the Test match when he hinted that Muralitharan’s action might be illegal.

Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing during the Australian tour three years ago but was later cleared by the International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body.