A boy for Sanath J

By Esther Williams

Sanath Jayasuriya had two reasons to be proud of on Friday, October 20th – their team winning their match against New Zealand and hearing of his son’s birth, amidst cheers from his team mates. Of the latter he was ecstatic.

A fatherly tap……Sanath lovingly taps his still unnamed son at the Joseph Frazer hospital bed along with his wife Sandra and daughter Keshani Pix by Ranjith Perera

He flew down to Colombo on Saturday to be with his family. The proud parents hadn’t been sure if it was going to be a boy or girl and coming a week earlier than expected was indeed a surprise. “I came at the crucial time and that is important,” Sanath said, intending to be there during the delivery all along.

Sanath’s wife Sandra gave birth to their third child - a boy at about 2.30 pm on Friday October 20th. Born in the caesarean section weighing 3 kilos the baby and mother are both safe.

For both his first two children – Keshani (4) and Yalindi (2) Sanath had been present at the theatre. “I missed him this time,” Sandra says, glad that he has been able to take at least two days off.

Asked if he felt bad about not being there the moment his son came into the world, “It is part of my job in playing for my country,” he smiled. About their performance at the ICC Champions Trophy, Sanath is happy with their team’s performance so far, despite the fiasco with Pakistan. “We are playing really good cricket,” he says.

Sanath goes back to India on Sunday to face their crucial match against South Africa on the 24th. Thereafter, he hopes to spend two weeks with the family soon before heading to New Zealand.