President Rajapaksa praised the team and expressed his appreciation on behalf of the nation to the team in reaching the second consecutive final.

"Whether you won the Cup or not, reaching the final, was a great achievement. You have done us proud," the President said referring to Saturday's loss to India in the World Cup final.

"Like in every sport, there had to be one winner on Saturday," he said adding that the defeat in no way reduced the team's effort through the long tournament.

At the reception, the President flanked by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa presented players with a 5,000 rupee gold coin and a pair of gold cufflinks encrusted with colouful stones.

President presented Muttiah Muralitharan with a special plaque with a red cricket ball “for the invaluable services to Sri Lanka cricket and achieving unprecedented milestones in his cricketing career and for bringing glory and fame to our motherland.”

Murali speaking to PRIU said "public of Sri Lanka gave me everything they can. Now it is my turn give them what I can."

In the coming years he will be supporting charitable work including the building of a school and sporting facilities in the former war zone in northern Sri Lanka and a country-wide project to provide school equipment to children in the poorest villages.