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``Arjuna Ranatunga put little Sri Lanka on the World Map'' was the cry of all those who spoke at the felicitation ceremony for former cricket Captain Arjuna Ranatunga at the Trans Asia Hotel and organised by the Ananda College Old Boys Association and the Old Anandians Sports Club on Sunday.

Arjuna, in National Dress was accompanied to the dais by the Members of the Old Anandians Sports Club and Principal. T. B. Damunupola.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Ranjith Cabraal, president of the OBA, said that Anandians are people with a proud and noble tradition who had withstood the ravages of time. ``We salute you, Arjuna and we cannot forget what you have done for the game of cricket. Everyone has their weaknesses and strengths but we Anandians need to go forward. We are proud of you for having led Sri Lanka to cricketing glory. You have bestowed all Anandians young and old with glory.

Professor J. B. Dissanayake speaking about Arjuna said that his parents have named him after the famous warrior in the Mahabarata Arjuna who won the hearts of many maidens with his bravery in battle. Little would Arjuna's parents have realised that their son will emulate the feats of that great warrior on the cricket field. Because of the World Cup win he put Sri Lanka on the World Map.

He learn all this at Ananda his alma mater. He needs to share the lessons learnt in school with the younger generation.'' Professor Dissanayake.

Deva Rodrigo speaking on behalf of the old boy's Association said that the old boys were very keen on felicitating Arjuna soon after the World Cup. This ceremony is to celebrate what Arjuna Ranatunga has achieved in life. He has brought recognition and pride to his school and the country.

He scored the first half century for Sri Lanka and the first century and first double century were also scored by Old Anandians Sidath Wettimuny and Brendon Kuruppu respectively. Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna's good friend scored the first triple century. Ananda was set up for people who come from the villages.

Samantha Rajapakse, the Secretary of the Old Anandians Sports Club said that Arjuna Ranatunga is indeed one of the greatest cricketers of our lifetime. When tracing his past it is difficult to know where to start from. In 1974 he led the Anandian Under 12 team to be All Island Champions. In 1978 in the Under 15 team he scored 315 not out and took a match bag of 11 wickets to make an early entry into the Wisden Book of records. He won the Best Allrounder, Best Batsman and Best Bowler awards. In 1978 at the age of 14 he began one of the greatest careers in school cricket history. He also captained the Gampaha Cricket team. In an International Career that began in 1981 when he represented the Schools side to England under Navin de Silva he started what was to be an enterprising career. In 1985 he led the Under 23 team. And in 1982 he became the youngest Test cricketer to represent Sri Lanka against the Englishmen. As at May 1999 his highest score was 135 and he had represented the country in 269 one day matches with a highest score of 131 amassing 7,000 runs and taking 79 wickets.

In 1996 under Arjuna's captaincy a Sri Lanka team climbed the Everest of cricket when they won the World Cup. This was indeed the greatest sporting achievement by the country since M.J.M. Latif won the World Billiads and Snooker Championship in 1973. This is indeed a short summary of a great career in cricket.

Thereafter a letter from the Victorian Old Anandian Association in Australia was read out in which they had spelled out how proud thy are to be Anandians after what Ranatunga had achieved.

Dr. Cabraal said that Arjuna deserves gold but we can give him only silver. A memento was given to Arjuna by H.S. Perera, President of the Old Anandian Sports Club.

Arjuna speaking on the occasion thanked the Old Anandians for the splendid function they had put up for him. He thanked the College of which he was a member from 1970-1982, and for the lessons he learnt to become a gentleman. He thanked the Principals, Colonel G.W. Rajapakse, T.B. Damunupola and coaches Lionel Mendis, Anurudha Polonowita, and all teachers and his parents, family and his wife for all the support he received from them.