[1] He was a key member and wicket-keeper for 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team and renowned for his aggressive batting style.

Kaluwitharana made his ODI debut against India at Margao[6] in December 1990, but was not required to bat as Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets.

This new strategy of aggressive batting from the outset heavily contributed to Sri Lanka to win all their matches and secure the 1996 Cricket World Cup later as all other teams were not prepared for such an attack.

With that win, Sri Lanka qualified for the finals and Kaluwitharana won third consecutive man of the match award.

In the first, semi final against India, Kaluwitharana made match winning stumping to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar and turned the table towards Sri Lanka.

[12] After the crowd threw bottles at the deep fielders, Sri Lanka won by default and reached their first World Cup final.

[15] In the first match of Sameer Cup 1996–97, also known as Kenya Cricket Association Centenary Tournament, Kaluwitharana scored his maiden ODI century.

In the chase, Sri Lanka achieve the target within 30.4 overs, courtesy of Kaluwitharana's unbeaten century off 89 balls with 17 fours and 1 six with a strike rate of 112.35.

On 20 May 1997, in the 1997 Pepsi Independence Cup, Kaluwitharana won the man of the match award for scoring 44 runs and involved in 2 catches and 2 stumpings against New Zealand.

[19][20] Then on 7 April 1998 against Pakistan at Kimberley in the 1997–98 Standard Bank International One-Day Series, he scored 54 runs without boundaries and made 107-run partnership with Jayasuriya.

Even though Sri Lanka posted a total of 295/7, Pakistan reached the target easily with Inzamam-ul-Haq's unbeaten century.

[23] Against New Zealand on 26 October 1998 in the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy, Kaluwitharana made another match winning partnership, this time with skipper Ranatunga.

[24] After the semi final berth, Sri Lanka lost the match to South Africa and did not advanced further in the tournament.

In reply, England lost wickets at regular intervals and finally Sri Lanka won the match by 11 runs.

[28] Sri Lanka entered to the 1999 Cricket World Cup as defending champions, but ended the tournament as their worst performance in a global competition.

However, match was ended in a tie despite Sri Lanka needed just 24 from ten overs with eight wickets remaining at one stage.

[35] In January 2000 against South Africa, he made useful contribution at the top of the batting lineup, but eventually lost the series 5–1.

[41] With the emergence of Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan in wicket keeping and batting credentials, Kaluwitharana lost his place in the ODI team and made sporadic appearances.

He along with Chaminda Vaas added 137 for the seventh wicket, but finally Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings and 36 runs.

In the second innings, Arnold and Mahela Jayawardene scored fifties before rain and bad light ended the game in a draw.