Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that some people were slinging mud at cricketer Lasith Malinga following his farewell speech made at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
He said this at the Sri Sunandarama Temple in Beliatta during the Bala Mandala meeting of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and added that political mudslinging was rampant under the present political environment in the country.
"This government came to power with the help of slinging mud and is still surviving by slinging mud," he said. "Eleven years ago, I helped him when he had injured his leg and this had turned out to be something very important to him. Today, certain people are slinging mud at Malinga for the content of his farewell speech."
During his farewell speech, Malinga praised Mr. Rajapaksa and his personal Doctor, Dr.Eliyantha White.
Malinga said he suffered an injury on his leg a few years ago and that it was Mr Rajapaksa who introduced him to Dr. White.
He said he was able to play cricket longer than expected only because of the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa and that he was forever grateful for his help.
(Daily Mirror)