The Sri Lankan president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, yesterday joined thousands of cricket fans at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as the national side set a world record for the highest Test score by amassing 952 runs. Kumaratunga congratulated captain Arjuna Ranatunga and his team as they punished India to shatter the 59-year-old record held by England, who scored 903 runs for seven wickets declared against Australia at The Oval in 1938.
The president brushed aside security concerns to go to the stadium as the scoreboard ticked away amid constant cheering, singing and dancing by 32,000 fans.
Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya scored a mammoth 340 but missed Brian Lara's record for the highest Test score by just 35 runs.
He was nonetheless given a house in Colombo by the Sri Lankan government in recognition of his achievement, said Sri Lankan Cricket Board chief executive Dhamikka Ranatunga.
The second-wicket pair of Roshan Mahanama and Jayasuriya, who had batted for two days, carved out a world record for any wicket with their partnership of 576.
Work in government and private sector companies came to a standstill yesterday as the record approached.
