Pakistani bus driver Mehr Mohammad Khalil will be honored in Colombo, Sri Lanka, today (Monday, April 6, 2009) for saving the lives of Sri Lankan cricketers during a terrorist attack made on them in Lahore on March 03, 2009. The Sri Lankan government invited Khalil and his family for honoring the brave driver over his heroic move of racing the bus ahead in the face of firing by the terrorists.

On March 03, 209, armed terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore while the team was being driven to the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium. The attackers used rifles, grenades, and rockets to target the vehicles, killing six security personnel and a driver while injuring a number of Sri Lankan cricketers. While bullets wee showered on the bus, Khalil pressed the accelerator hard and got the vehicle out of the reach of the terrorists’ arms. He rushed the bus, with the wounded players lying inside, to the stadium where medical help was provided to the injured cricketers.

Acknowledging Khalil brave move, the Sri Lankan government is going to hold a ceremony for honoring Khalil, who has already left for Colombo along with his wife and children. The Sri Lankan cricket team is also expected to participate in the ceremony. It is worth mentioning that Khalail has also been awarded Rs. 500, 000 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for saving the lives of Sri Lankan cricketers in the Lahore attack.