ZCZC
BSP-22
SRILANKA-POLITICS-DILSHAN-CRICKET
Sri Lanka cricket star joins Rajapakse’s party
COLOMBO, Nov 14, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka’s former cricket captain
Tillakaratne Dilshan Wednesday joined the political party of former leader
Mahinda Rajapakse, soon after his controversial government was voted out by
the legislature.
Rajapakse was named by the president as prime minister in October following
the shock sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe. After several weeks of political
wrangling in which Wickremesinghe refused to stand down, Rajapakse was voted
out in a no-confidence action.
Dilshan, 42, took membership in Rajapakse’s newly-formed Sri Lanka People’s
Front (SLPP) on the same day the national parliament defeated the former
president in a landmark vote.
There was no immediate comment from Dilshan — who quit international
cricket in 2016 — but the party posted a photo of him obtaining his
membership from a senior politician.
Dilshan played 87 Tests, scored 5,492 runs and has taken 39 wickets giving
away 1,711 runs.
Several top Sri Lankan cricket stars have gone on to enter politics.
Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga was a cabinet
minister in the Wickremesinghe’s government.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1848 hrs