Colombo, April 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Sri Lanka's cricket legends from the 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning team, including Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Aravinda de Silva, Marvan Atapattu, and others, during his visit to Colombo.
PM Modi is in Sri Lanka on a State visit from April 4 to 6, at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Disanayaka. His arrival in Colombo on Friday marked his first trip to Sri Lanka since 2019. As part of his visit, he had the opportunity to meet members of the iconic 1996 World Cup-winning team, who claimed Sri Lanka's first-ever World Cup title by defeating Australia in the final in Lahore.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, PM Modi expressed his joy over the meeting: "Bonding through cricket! I am delighted to have had the opportunity to speak with the players of the Sri Lankan cricket team that won the 1996 World Cup. This team captured the hearts of countless sports fans!"
Following the meeting, several Sri Lankan cricket legends spoke to the media about their interaction with the Prime Minister and the strong cricketing ties between India and Sri Lanka. Marvan Atapattu, who amassed 14,036 runs across formats in 360 matches, called the meeting "extraordinary." He added, "We have been lucky. Meeting a head of state who is a strong leader who has brought India to its heights was a dream come true. It was our honour and privilege to meet the Prime Minister this evening."
Chaminda Vaas, renowned for taking 760 wickets in 438 matches between 1994 and 2009, praised PM Modi’s knowledge of cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya, the explosive all-rounder with 21,032 runs, 437 wickets, and 42 centuries from 586 matches, shared, "It was really nice meeting the Prime Minister. We discussed cricket, both the present and the past, and the challenges we’re currently facing. It was a great experience. He also spoke about his journey to becoming the Prime Minister, India's development, and what he’s done for the country. We also had discussions about international cricket, particularly in Jaffna."
