Though dubbed as the "war hero", the role of Rajapaksa in ending the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam with the death of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009 is quite divisive as he stands accused of violating human rights, a charge he vehemently denies.
Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as angry protesters stormed the prime minister's office in Colombo, hours after president Gotabaya Rajapksa fled to the Maldives on a military jet, amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday fired Basil Rajapaksa from his post and invited the Opposition parties to join a unity Cabinet to tackle the raging public anger against the hardships caused by the economic crisis.
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga said goodbye to one-day cricket in style as his devastating opening spell helped Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 91 runs on Friday.
The government's poor handling of the economic crisis where people currently endure long hours of power outages and scarcity of essentials has angered the public which planned country-wide protests on Sunday.
Sri Lanka chased down 239 for victory in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Monday said he hasn't confirmed his availability in any franchise-based T20 league at this stage, refuting reports that he could participate in the inaugural Lanka Premier League, starting on August 28.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan could be one of the biggest attractions in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) as he is among the 70 foreign players who have expressed interest in competing in the event starting August 28.
All-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the postponement of Tuesday's second T20 International between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo.
Ppolitical experts in Colombo said the ministers came under intense pressure from the public over the government's alleged "mishandling" of the economic crisis, triggered by the shortage in the foreign exchange reserve.
As Dinesh Karthik celebrated his 35th birthday on Monday, opening batsman Rohit Sharma remembered the wicketkeeper's heroics with the bat in the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series final in Colombo, in 2018. Karthik scored a last-ball six to help India pull off an incredible chase to beat Bangladesh by four wickets and win the Nidahas T20 tri-series title.
President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Rajapaksa will transform Sri Lanka's political landscape after Thursday's electoral triumph, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran Colombo watcher.
Having lost the third ODI to Sri Lanka, Shikhar Dhawan's men will be looking to go one better against Sri Lanka with a T20 team that is ahead in almost all departments.
Chetan Sakariya reflects on his journey in India colours during the recent limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga will retire from One-day International cricket after the first match of a three-match series against Bangladesh, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said on Monday.
India welcomed resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka and exuded confidence that relations between the two countries will continue to move on in an upward trajectory.
Gota has to decide if he could order elder brother Mahinda's arrest as the agent provocateur of Monday's violence. Then he has to prepare for an interim government, in which no one would now want to become a cabinet minister leave alone prime minister, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is wary of chasing under lights in Saturday's second one-dayer against Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, saying there will be something in the wicket in the second session.
Rahul Dravid says the just-concluded Sri Lanka series is an opportunity to reflect that not all wickets are going to be flat. 'We need to find ways to scrap and score 130, 140 on these wickets'
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is keen to host the currently-suspended IPL but the influential voices within the BCCI feel that there is no point in discussing such a proposal in a "closed world" battling the coronavirus pandemic right now. The IPL, scheduled from March 29-May 24, has been postponed indefinitely by the BCCI in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Board will only conduct the tournament when normalcy returns.
The fixtures for the T20I tri-series involving Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh have been revised, and the tournament will now be held from March 6 to 18.
Images from the first One-Day International between India and Sri Lanka, in Colombo, on Sunday.
'The residual historical hostility against India was certainly a factor,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Sarfraz, Imad: Pakistanis to win an ICC final vs India
BCCI feels that the ICC's 'delaying tactic' could severely hurt IPL preparations.
It took Tendulkar 78 matches to score his first hundred in ODIs as he hit a sparkling 110 against Australia during the third match of the Singer World Series to steer India to a 31-run victory.
The West Indies entered the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 by virtue of superior net run-rate after their final group league encounter against Ireland was called off due to heavy downpour at the R Premadasa Stadium, on Monday.
It will be a David versus Goliath battle at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday when defending champions England launch their World Twenty20 campaign against Afghanistan, who displayed enough fighting abilities in their opening fixture against India.
Chasing 215 to win, Bangladesh made a flying start before enduring a mid-innings slump when Mushfiqur took the onus on himself to help Bangladesh post their highest total in the 20-overs format and win by five wickets with two balls to spare.
Statistical highlights of the World Twenty20 final between the West Indies and Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Australian umpire Simon Taufel, who is set to stand in his final international game during Sunday's ICC World T20 final, termed the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India versus Pakistan as the "most exciting match" of his career.
Reigning champions Australia will aim for their second successive title when they take on 2009 winners England in the final of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
Photos of the World Twenty20 semi-final match between West Indies and Australia being played in Colombo.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has lashed out at the authorities for preparing an unsporting track for the ICC World Twenty20 semifinal between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
Skipper Charlotte Edwards anchored a comfortable chase as England sailed into the final of the Women's World Twenty20 with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first semi-final on Thursday.
West Indies were crowned the World Twenty20 champions after beating hosts Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the final. Check out the team statistics of the tournament.
West Indies were crowned the World Twenty20 champions after beating hosts Sri Lanka by 36 runs in a bowler-dominated final at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard lit up the second semi-final with scintillating power-hitting as West Indies crushed Australia by 74 runs on Friday to reach their first World Twenty20 final.
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