Mahela Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the history of the sport. Born on May 27, 1977, in Colombo, he made his international debut in 1997 and played until 2015. Jayawardene was known for his elegant batting style and exceptional technique, scoring over 25,000 runs in international cricket. During his career, Jayawardene captained the Sri Lankan national team and led them to numerous victories, including the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 title. He was also a key player in the team's run to the finals of the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cups. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and mentoring roles in various cricket leagues.