Xtra Time Web Desk: Sri Lankan cricketers Dinesh Chandimal and Thisara Perera have formally joined the Sri Lankan Army as a Major. According to a report in Colombo Gazette, Perera has been enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as a Major in the Gajaba Regiment.
Confirming the news on twitter, Thisara Perera who played in the Indian Premier League for seven seasons for teams like Chennai Super Kings, Kochi Tuskers, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad , Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiants said, “I accepted the invitation of Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva in the first place & joined the Army. Getting an invitation from someone like him was one of the biggest achievements of my life.”
The 30-year-old has represented Sri Lanka in six Tests, 161 ODIs and 79 T20Is in which he has scored 203, 2210 and 1169 runs respectively. Besides, he has taken 11, 171 and 51 wickets in the three formats.
Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal had also joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force earlier this year. Chandimal have had the opportunity to play only one season in IPL in 2012 when he was signed up by Rajasthan Royals.