The impressive 'Dilshan'

[Nostromo]

I was quite impressed with Dilshan Tillakaratne's intelligent and economical slow bowling the other day against India. Although primarily in for his batting, he offers Atapattu an additional option on helpful wickets in the World Cup.

One thing I cannot understand about hin though; why does everyone continue to call him "Tillakaratne Dilshan" when (I think) he really called himself Dilshan Tillakaratne after his conversion to Buddhism? As I understood it at the time, he used his first name on his shirts to distinguish between the Hashan Tillakaratne and himself when they played together for a short while; now that Hashan is retired, can't he revert to Dilshan Tillakaratne?

[mikesiva]

He converted to Buddhism? I thought he was originally a Buddhist....

What was he before?

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by mikesiva

He converted to Buddhism? I thought he was originally a Buddhist....

What was he before?

I thought so too, but from his bio on the web, it looks like he was born a Muslim and then converted to Buddhism. He was called "Dilshan Tillakaratne" to start with, but somewhere along the line it became the other way around.