Sri Lankans recover after attacks

Page last updated at 09:39 GMT, Thursday, 5 March 2009

Paranavitana had surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his chest Sri Lankan cricketers Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana have undergone surgery after being hurt in the attacks in Pakistan. Samaraweera had shrapnel removed from his right leg, while Paranavitana had a bullet lodged in his chest. Seven players were injured in the ambush in Lahore and six police officers and two civilians were killed. Spinner Ajantha Mendis will remain in hospital after he had two operations to remove shrapnel from his back and head. He is not expected to play for between four-to-six weeks. "I am feeling better, and happy to be with my wife," Samaraweera said. The 32-year-old was among the most seriously wounded of the seven Sri Lanka players and has set his sights on a return to cricket in July. "Realistically, I will rest and recuperate for a few weeks and the surgeon says I should be able to resume training towards the end of April or early May," said Samaraweera, who on Monday became only the sixth batsman in history to score back-to-back double Test hundreds. Doctors removed shrapnel from the shoulder of vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara and from the arm of British assistant coach Paul Farbrace. "Sangakkara will be discharged Thursday and the others in due course. None of them had grave injuries," said Geethanjana Mendis, director general of the Sports Ministry medical unit. "They will be back in action in a few weeks time." Skipper Mahela Jayawardene was discharged from hospital after treatment for a minor leg injury, while Thilan Thushara and Sampath Lakmal also underwent hospital treatment. The entire 25-member squad was checked out by medical staff on their return to Sri Lanka and only six were kept in hospital. Police stepped up security at the Nawaloka hospital where the players were being treated with plain-clothed officers placed outside their hospital rooms along with regular police. No cricket fans were allowed to visit the players, with only immediate family members given access.