Separamadu Lasith Malinga (Sinhala:සෙපරමාදු ලසිත් මාලිංග) (born August 28, 1983 in Galle, Sri Lanka) is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a specialist fast bowler with a rare round-arm action, sometimes referred to as a sling action, which leads to his nickname, "Slinga Malinga". He is very well known for his swinging yorkers which has been known to smash batsmen's toes if they do not see it come out of his hand. Malinga can also swing the ball early on in a match and this is an advantage to him. He is well known for his ability to take consecutive wickets: he is the first and only bowler in the world to have two World Cup hat-tricks, the first and only bowler to have taken three hat-tricks in ODIs and he is also the first, and currently the only, player to have taken four wickets in four consecutive balls in any form of international cricket. On 22 April 2011, he announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Malinga grew up in modest circumstances in Rathgama, and always enjoyed cricket. He often played out with friends on the sand banks and coconut groves by a river in his cricket-obsessed village. He first had his education at Devapathiraja College, Rathgama and then at Vidyaloka College, Galle. Later he moved to Mahinda College, Galle. Malinga started his cricket career at Vidyaloka College, where he was discovered by former Sri Lankan paceman Champaka Ramanayake. Champaka who was so impressed by Lasith Malinga's raw ability had invited him to join the cricket team of Galle Cricket Club. Champaka also helped him to join the first XI cricket team of Mahinda College, Galle.A short-lived attempt to make Malinga's action more upright led to much reduced pace and failing accuracy. Malinga promptly returned to his natural action with success, and with great encouragement from Champaka Ramanayake.