Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Sri Lankan cricketers visit Spencer Plaza

Staff Reporter

They are doing their bit to promote the country's trade centre

ON HOME TURF: Sri Lankan cricketers spend time at the Sri Lanka Trade Centre at Spencer Plaza in the city on Wednesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: The Sri Lanka Trade Centre in the Spencer Plaza has had a rather subdued existence since opening shop last year. Nestled in a corner on the first floor of the third phase of the mega mall, it is quite deceptive to the extent that many will miss the fact that there are 17 shops within, all promoting Sri Lankan products from clothing to jewellery to tea. But on Wednesday evening, at least a hundred persons tried to jostle into the complex keeping with the Indian Cricket Fan's First Law of Fanfare: No matter which country they are from, wherever cricketers go the fans follow. Top Sri Lankan cricketers - Captain Marvan Atapattu, vice-captain Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Sangakarra and Mahela Jayawardene - were doing their bit to promote the centre. Jeevani Siriwardena, director, Sri Lanka Trade Centre, welcomed the cricketers and thanked them for doing their bit to promote their country products. M. Hyder Anver, first secretary, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, was also present with his wife and daughter.

Sangakkara was accompanied by his wife Yehal. Newly wed Jayawardene came with his wife Christina. They spent a few moments stopping by the shops and signing autographs. The centre had arranged for dinner for the cricketers but they just had enough time to bite a sandwich or two and left in a hurry.

No sooner than the cricketers left, the fans dissipated from the scene.

Some of them were hoping that the pictures taken by their mobile phones would last as the wallpaper for at least a few days. Of course, that is only till another celebrity drops by the plaza. Better still some one from the Indian cricket team.

For the record, Sri Lanka Centre has some unique shops selling various things from popular jewellery to ayurvedic products and is worth a stop.

Sri Lanka Trade Centre is located at F-35, First Floor, Phase III, Spencer Plaza. Phone: 5208 4843.

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