Malinga's wife Tanya Speaks

That day when media blocked Malinga getting out of the car ...
he lost his temper,
That's why he said, 
   "Look after your own business men!"
                --Malinga's wife, Tanya Perera
*From where did you watch the match in which Malinga won the Cup?
  From our home. We have 2 kids. I watched the match with the two of them ... staying at home.

*Why couldn't go this time?
  Because of the involvement with the two children. Our son is too small. If it was something that    
  goes on for long ... I'd somehow or other go. But because it's only for 1 day ... couldn't go.

*Did you call as soon as he won? Did Malinga speak to you?
  As soon as we won ... Lasith spoke to me. Whatever match he plays .... he's like that. He called and asked whether I watched. My happiness doubled and trebled because he is the captain of the team that won the Cup after becoming champions in 96. A big sense of happiness. It's not something that can be explained in words.

*When Malinga went ... it was Chandimal who was captain. Was he aware that he would get an opportunity like this when he was going?
  No ... he didn't know. I think he didn't know that he was going to be appointed as captain when he was going.  When Chandimal left .... he was phoned mew told me that he got the captaincy.

*How did you feel that moment? Did you also feel that he should get it?
  Yes ... that was a time when he should have got it. In any way, he had the talent for it. I thought he got it at the right time. I felt a great joy.

*What Malinga says is that it was luck that made it possible ... and not skill. If not his luck ... can't this be your luck or that of both your children?
  I don't understand to answer that. I feel that there should be even a small luck. But I can't explain whether that luck is that of Lasith, mine, the 2 kids or even that of the country.That he had a skill more than luck is also true. Even previously he strived with much dedication. He dedicated himself in almost every match. I think that as much as luck, skill and knowledge ... all contributed.

*When the Cup was lifted after winning .... Sangakkara's wife Yehali ran to the ground and when she embraced him and wished him ... didn't you feel like being there?
  Not anything that way .... what was important to me was to get that victory. If I thought that I should have been there .... I would definitely go. I didn't feel it was essential that I must be there. My blessings are always with him. I attend to everything at home without letting him feel any problem at all. I don't let any problem creep into his head .... he knows it. He knows that even if I couldn't be with him always ... that I am there.

*When he came down to Sri Lanka and met you for the first time .... how did you share that joy with him?
  Before I went near him ... our daughter ran to him. Lasith came forward and took her in his arms. After that she was right along in his arms ... a big joy. When I saw him with the trophy ... my joy knew no bounds. I was overjoyed because of the Cup we got after having come to the Finals after missing it for sometime. It was a joy that can't be finished expressing.

*He had said after the victory that even bowlers are fit for captaincy. Was he of the belief that he would never get the captaincy because he was a fast bowler?
 What I understand is that he proved the point that even bowlers can handle captainship. I and he both maintained the view that the point is not whether you are a bowler or batsman ... but what influences captainship is the knowledge one has about the team. Whatever position one holds in the team ... if the others' skill is understood ... if one knows where to place the fielders and has the experience ... then I think it is not a problem.

*When he was vice captain .... isn't it that he have hopes of captainship? When he didn't get it .... was he disappointed?
  Neither he nor I have any such disappointment because Lasith never went behind captaincy. What he did was give his maximum to the team ... and didn't work with captainship in mind. But I knew that he had a lot of capabilities. He has experience .... specially in T20 matches he has much experience. He's also one of the senior players. Whether he got theposition or not ... he did what had to be done for the team with the knowledge he had. Other than that he never played with the hope of captainship.

*In the past when allegations were aimed that there was match-fixing and betrayal of the side ... what did he say?
  What anybody said ... he takes no notice. I also didn't care. Sometimes when we see things broadcast over the TV ... both of us look at each other's face and laugh. What can we do for people's mentality and things like jealousy? So because of that, both of us have a laugh at each other and just carry on. We let anybody say what they want. I believe that he gave a good answer to everybody who said those things ... this time.

*When he got involved with the media .... what did he come home and tell?
  It's like this. He came and told that he was pushed along by the media. He was not allowed to get down from the vehicle ... that part was not shown on the video. When a thing like that happens, anybody will lose his temper, isn't it? If there's no room to get down from the vehicle, a camera is poked with the door being blocked .... it is fair that anybody would go into a temper. I asked him why he didn't say something like 'why don't you let me get down?' and tell something like that. Everybody pointed his finger at him isn't it? Whatever it is, it was a fault on both sides because the part where the door was not being able to be opened wasn't mentioned there. Because he shouted, the fault was apparently his. The media also should know that on the other side, what a player's mentality is. It is wrong to always run them down. I know that nobody can run down Lasith like that ... can't let him down like that. But though it'snot something for him to brush aside .... it may not be so for another player.

*Some people find fault with Lasith's make-up. Do you mind what Lasith does as a player representing Sri Lanka?
  When I met him also he was like that. His style of make-up was never a problem to me.

*How did you meet each other?
  It was during the time I was working that I met him. I was working as a co-ordinator for the public in a certain establishment. It was at a certain event that I met him. For that event, it was Lasith who came as a kind of Ambassador. Ultimately, when the event was over ... he had already expressed his feelings to me.

*What type of person is he when you met him?
  There is no difference of the time we were involved in the romance as such. Whatever he felt, he always used to tell straightaway. Most people say that he's proud. But it's not like that. There are those who associate him closely. He's not a proud person ... he's a very humble person. He shows attention to me and the 2 kids in everything.

*When he's at home, how is he .... does he give any assistance?
  Whenever he has to be close to me .... he has done so. Last year when I was to give birth to my small son, he gave up his involvement with the IPL and came tome. I was then in the States. I told him not to .... but he didn't listen. He was competing for the Mumbai Indian Champions Cup. He dropped the matter and was by my side. Those things I really value.

*Because Lasith is not at home most of the time, the 2 kids are not very much attached to him ... isn't it?
  The small one of course is very small. He of course is still 6 months old now ... doesn't understand anything. The elder one understands .... when the father goes for matches,she knows that Lasith is not at home ... and that he is not near her. Sometimes looks for her Lasith ... asks me. When Lasith is at home, she's always with the father. When Lasith is there ... there's no taking her away from Lasith.

*The town where Malinga was born ... Rattota is a bit of an aggressive place of inhabitants. Is he also an aggressive character like that?
  Aggressive means ... it's like this. There are times when he loses his temper .. not that the doesn't. But he's not a very aggressive person as such. He is also patient. Even when I shout ... he keeps listening.

*Are there moments when he's emotional?
  He's very emotional when it comes to the 2 kids and me. He doesn't show it externally. But I know that inside he's thinking.

*The person called Lasith is someone who has won the attention of girls all over the world. Aren't there moments when you feel jealous?
  No ... there are those who say various things. I am getting calls on my phone and all sorts of things are said. Not that there isn't ... but I am not interested in even a single thing that is said. I know the person who is with me.

*Sometimes even Bollywood actresses express their feelings for him. What do you feel at such a moment?
  I feel proud... because he's my husband no ....

*Does he give you orders?
  No rules .... but he didn't like me working.

*As soon as he gets a wicket ... that dance he does ...don't you make comments? Something like the dance is ugly?
  No .... no... I am not going to say... because there's nothing ugly about it. That's not what he does on purpose. It comes naturally because he's overjoyed. Because if it's a wicket that he gets after waiting for sometime ... he's so happy. So, sometimes of course when I see ... I also can't help laughing. He did something like that in England ... like that thing that Hussain Bolt did. For that of course I burst out laughing.

*To whom is Lasith closest to in the team?
  It's Nuwan Kulasekera whom he associates most closely.

*Do you remember a date when Lasith was the happiest?
  It's this event where the World Cup was won.

*When was he saddest ... because of cricket?
  In 2008 ... the time when he had the injury. Nobody cared about his leg problem.He was very disappointed ... not about cricket ... but with the people concerned in relation to the incidents that happened. He was never disappointed over cricket.

*Did he use to tell you abut issues that he had with the Cricket Board?
  Yes .... he used to tell me after coming home.

*What did he say about the Sanga-Mahela issue?
  Regarding that of course he didn't say anything. Because when he comes home ... he's very busy no.

*Apart from Lasith, whom do you like best in the team?
  Like almost all the players there. Like Kumar aiyya and Mahela aiyya very much.


Subhashini Guneratna