Following are excerpts from an interview given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Hindu Editor, N Ram on July 22.
Q: Mr. President, what is your view of Kumar Sangakkara's MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture?
A: It's a very good lecture. I appreciate it.
Q: About both cricket and country?
A: On cricket, it's what he feels about it. There are others who don't agree with him, on that part. But he can express his views. About the country, he has said it. Now, no one has taken that part of it where he criticised the LTTE as terrorists. He spoke about the terrorists of Sri Lanka whereas some locals are trying to show the LTTE as our freedom-fighters!
Q: And he spoke about the equality of all Sri Lankans, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher.
A: Yes, we treat them all alike; that's what he said. It was a very good speech. I appreciate it. (Sangakkara's The 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture can be heard at www.thehindu.com)
The Hindu / Daily News
