The picture shows Vaas engaged in prayers along with his wife Vasana and children Nethra and Ashwin. (pic by Ranjith Perera).

In what could be another first, Sri Lanka’s veteran medium pacer bowler Chaminda Vaas who has been the islands spearhead in both tests and one dayers held a thanksgiving holy mass at his alma mater St Josephs College on Friday evening.

The thanksgiving mass which was for the achievements of Chaminda Vaas playing over 100 tests and claiming over 300 test wickets and 400 one day wickets was presided over by Fr Sylvester Ranasinghe the Rector of St Josephs College. It was attended by a small and distinguished gathering that included Chaminda’s parents, relations, school friends, current captain Mahela Jayewardene and team mates.

Delivering the homily Fr. Stanley Abeysekera praised the former Josephian cricketer for his discipline, commitment and his faithfulness to his creator. Fr Abeysekera recalled how a few months back when the College held a felicitation ceremony for their first eleven cricketers who beat traditional rivals St Peters, Chaminda was forced to decline the invitation to attend due to the practice sessions that was in progress at that time.

It was also revealed that Chaminda Vaas had set many Sri Lankan and world records in his 15 year career as a medium pace bowler. In addition it was also heartening to note that over 60% of his victims in the one dayers have been the top order batsmen batting at positions of number one, two and three.