COLOMBO, Jan 10: Champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was honoured in Sri Lanka’s parliament on Thursday where the lawmakers praised him as an icon of unity to a divided nation.

Muralitharan broke the world record for most Test wickets in December, surpassing Australia’s Shane Warne tally of 708 dismissals.

Many of his present and former team-mates were seated in the parliament’s gallery when the speaker and lawmakers spoke.

“Our country’s rulers have been unable to bring glory to our country the way some of our sportsmen have,” said Wimal Weerawansa, a lawmaker from Marxist People’s Liberation Front.

“The cricket team is a good example of different races coming together to succeed. We politicians must emulate them,” he added.—AP