PM Modi Interacts With Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup Heroes During Colombo Visit | Watch

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Last Updated:April 06, 2025, 19:44 IST

During the meeting, PM highlighted how India’s 1983 World Cup victory and Sri Lanka’s 1996 win were transformative in shaping the global cricketing landscape

A video of the interaction shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi having a friendly conversation with the cricketers.

A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with members of Sri Lanka’s 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup-winning team has been circulating on the social media platform X, showing PM Modi engaging in a friendly conversation with the cricketers.

The interaction took place on Saturday during the Prime Minister’s two-day visit to Colombo. During the meeting, PM Modi highlighted how India’s 1983 World Cup victory and Sri Lanka’s 1996 win were transformative in shaping the global cricketing landscape.

#WATCH | Colombo, Sri Lanka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a special meeting with legendary Sri Lankan cricketers including members of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning squad, such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Aravinda de Silva, Marvan Atapattu, Ravindra Pushpakumara,… pic.twitter.com/f3Dx7ikOyR— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2025

PM Modi also praised Sri Lanka’s aggressive and innovative style of cricket, noting that it helped pave the way for the rise of T20 cricket.

During the discussion, the cricketers took the opportunity to request PM Modi’s support for developing a high-quality cricket ground in the northern part of Sri Lanka, especially in Jaffna. They also expressed their gratitude for India’s generous assistance during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis.

PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to the “Neighbourhood First" policy, citing India’s support to Myanmar during a recent earthquake as another example of this approach.

During his visit, Modi recalled India’s visit to Sri Lanka in 1996, despite a bomb blast, calling it a strong symbol of sportsmanship and enduring friendship. He also mentioned his visit to Sri Lanka after the 2019 terror attacks, noting that the spirit of India’s support remains unchanged.