New Delhi: Sri Lankan cricket fraternity heaped praised on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his transformative leadership and credited him for fostering cordial relations between India and Sri Lanka apart from his great knowledge of the game.
Modi is currently on a three-day visit to the island nation, and this is his first official visit since assuming the third terms as India’s PM in June 2024. On Saturday, the head of Indian government received a grand welcome at the iconic Independence Square in Colombo. He was received by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Later in the day, Modi was conferred with Sri Lanka’s prestigious award ‘Mithra Vibhushana’, which is given to head of governments, with whom Sri Lanka share friendly relations. The recipient of the award is given a citation and a silver medal. Officials said it was first time that a foreign leader received such a grand welcome at the Independence Square.
Sri Lanka’s prominent former cricketers, most of them members of their iconic 1996 World Cup winning campaign, acknowledged the work of Modi and his popularity across the globe.
“It was an extraordinary meeting (with PM Modi). We have been lucky. We have met many legendary cricketers, but to meet a head of a state, who has strong leadership and brought India to its heights, was a dream come true,” said Marvan Atapattu.
It was an extraordinary meeting PM Modi, a leader who has brought India to such heights…it was a dream come true”, says legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Marvan Atapattu after meeting PM @narendramodi @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/hVBMyGGHNy
— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 5, 2025
“From the time he came in power, he has changed a lot of things. A lot of good for Sri Lanka also. We are very grateful to India, specially during the crisis. India has always been there for us,” said Romesh Kaluwitharana.
‘It was a great experience meeting PM @narendramodi. He explained nicely how he developed India as a nation’, says Sanath Jayasuriya former Sri Lankan cricketer after meeting PM Modi. pic.twitter.com/s8ZCOFPhRW
— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 5, 2025
“It was a great meeting for the 1996 team to meet with the Indian Prime Minister we discussed a few things. We talked about cricket. We talked about how we are at the moment in cricket and what we were in past. He explained how he developed India as a nation since he took over in 2014. It was a great experience for us also,” said Sanath Jayasuriya.
