Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday for an official visit and took time out of his busy schedule to meet the members of the 1996 ODI World Cup-winning Sri Lanka team.
“It was a great honour to meet him personally as the ’96 team. We talked about sports during 1996, how we won the World Cup, and how we beat India, as well as the future of Sri Lanka. It went really well.
“Honourable Prime Minister, I think, follows cricket. He knows everything as a leader, being the most powerful person in South Asia. His cricket knowledge is very good. He knows about cricket, talked about the 1996 World Cup, Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda (de Silva), and asked me about how we beat India,” said former left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas.
Opener Sanath Jayasuriya said meeting PM Modi was a great experience.
“It was a great meeting for us, the ’96 cricket team, to have a meeting with the honourable Prime Minister. We discussed a few things. We talked about our cricket, both past and present, what we’re going through at the moment, and what we’re doing currently.
“He talked about, in general, everything – how he took over and how he developed the country as a nation. We were discussing that. He explained everything about what he has done since 2014. So, it was a great meeting for us and a great experience, as some of the things he mentioned were new to us. The honourable Prime Minister explained everything about what he has done for India,” said Jayasuriya.
Jayasuriya’s opening partner, Romesh Kaluwitharana, said India, under PM Modi, has helped Sri Lanka a lot.
“Actually, I think from the time His Excellency came into power, he changed a lot of things. He’s done a lot of good for Sri Lanka as well. We are ever grateful to India. Especially in times of crisis, India has always been there for us. Also, particularly in cricket, whenever there’s a financial issue, they have always helped us with tours to get our feet on the ground,” said Kaluwitharana.
Former spinner and international umpire Kumara Dharmasena was excited after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said it was the first time he had seen a leader like him. Roshan Mahanama said meeting Prime Minister Modi was a “dream come true.”
“Cricket connect! Delighted to interact with members of the 1996 Sri Lankan cricket team, which won the World Cup that year. This team captured the imagination of countless sports lovers,” shared PM Modi on X.
-IANS
