Malinga grew up in modest circumstances in Rathgama, and always enjoyed cricket. He often played out with friends on the streets and in the coconut groves of his cricket-obsessed village. He attended Vidyaloka College and then Mahinda College in Galle. Here he was discovered by former Sri Lankan paceman Champaka Ramanayake,who was so impressed by Malinga's raw ability that he invited him to join the Cricket Foundation of Sri Lanka. 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.