Sangakkara : "Your excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, the honourable Prime Minister, Members of Parliament, all the well wishers and the invitees, fans, all my friends, my family - who are all here, which is a rare occasion that all of us are together - Virat Kohli and the Indian team, Angelo and my team, I have got so many people to thank here. I will start off with my school - Trinity College, Kandy. Trinity College gave me a fantastic ground there in Kandy. It was an amazing school to go to. I owe a lot of who I am today to the grounding and foundation I got there. To all my coaches- I had so many because my father used to take me to so many coaches when I was young - a big thank you. To all my past captains, to Sri Lanka Cricket, to all my team-mates, thank you very much for everything that you've done for me. The support that I received, the inspiration, the drive and the commitment you have shown, not just to the game but also to each other and to me, I value all very, very highly. I am going to miss all that chat we had in the dressing room. To Charlie and Suthami Austin, thank you very much for managing me. You've become much more than managing, you've become family. I know I haven't thanked you enough in the past but today I'd like to say a huge thank you to Charlie and Suthami for being friends and being my managers and most of all for making me the godfather of your beautiful children. I didn't have to look far for inspiration (he loses his voice for a moment and gets emotional ) because I have my parents here with me. I didn't have to look far from my own home for inspiration because I had the most amazing parents that anyone could wish for. I had amazing siblings and all the support, the love they showed over the years. Thank you Amma (Mom) and Appachi (Dad). Thank you to all my in-laws. I have been blessed with an extended family. I was blessed to be born as your children and your siblings - thank you very much. I had 15 wonderful years playing this game. When I look up at the box today (in the stands), I see all my friends, people that I've known for 30 years, family, everyone is here and to see that they love me is great and that will always be my greatest achievement. To all the Sri Lankan fans, it has been an immense pleasure and previlege to represent all of you. Finally to Virat and the Indian team, thank you very much for everything, your kindness, the words that you have said but most of all thank you for the wonderful cricket that you have played. I can't ask for anything more than tough cricket when I am leaving. And you guys over the years have been our toughest opponents. We've planned to beat you, we have at times and other times we have failed. But thank you so much for putting in that effort. It doesn't matter if we've lost today, we'll try and beat you in the next game (smiles). Angelo and your team, you've got a wonderful team. I hope you try hard, don't be afraid to lose and keep the Sri Lankan flag flying high."
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