Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who threatened to send a B grade team for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, today welcomed the  world cup winning Sri Lankan cricket team at Bandaranayake International Airport upon their arrival. 

Thousands of cricket lovers, officials and journalists gathered at BIA to witness the arrival of the cricket team who won a world cup for Sri Lanka after 18 years. The team also posed for an official photograph with the Minister.

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Addressing a press conference soon after their arrival, Mahela Jayawardena said he was saddened by reports in the local press which misinterpreted his retirement from cricket. He also added that he would tender his letter of resignation officially to SLC today. 

Kumar Sangakkara, addressing the same press conference said that the focus should now be on ODIs and Test cricket as Sri Lanka has already won the T20 World Cup. 

He also expressed confidence that he would play for Sri Lanka in the next Cricket World Cup in 2015 alongside Mahela Jayawardena. 

Meanwhile, the duo expressed disappointment with the irresponsible manner in which SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and the SLC CEO handled their announcement of retirement. 

"We have to be fit to play. people will say what they want to say, but we keep in mind that we are playing for the country. We play cricket not because we have a contract with SLC. We play because we take pride in playing the game," Sangakkara asserted.

While saying that constructive criticism was welcome, Sangakkara said the World Cup victory was for the country.

(Pic courtesy : Azzam Ameen Twitter)