COLOMBO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse honored three of the island nation's outstanding athletes with special mementos here Saturday.

    Sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe and cricketers Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan were the recipients of the awards.

    The 40-year-old Jayasuriya was honored for his 20 years' dedication to cricket, including his pivotal role in Sri Lanka winning the cricket World Cup in 1996.

    Muralitharan, 37, is the world's highest wicket taker having represented the country in the international arena since 1992.

    Jayasinghe, 34, won bronze in women's 200m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 but was awarded the silver after American Marion Jones was stripped off the gold medal due to drug using.