Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winners met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Colombo on Saturday
GUWAHATI, April 6: Several of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winners have hailed their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi terming their interaction with the India Prime Minister “extraordinary” and a “great honour”.
Prime Minister Modi had on Saturday met members of Sri Lanka’s 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup-winning team during his two-day visit to Colombo.
“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!” Prime Minister Modi wrote on ‘X’ after meeting the Sri Lankan cricket world cup heroes.
Among those present were Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Maravan Attapattu, Kumara Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Ravindra Pushpakumara and Upul Chandana.
Great experience meeting PM Mod: Sanath Jayasuriya
The Sri Lankan cricketers termed their meeting with Prime Minister Modi as “extraordinary” and a “great experience”.
“It was a great experience meeting PM Modi. He explained nicely how he developed India as a nation,” said Sanath Jayasuriya.
Great honor to meet PM Modi personally: Chaminda Vaas
“It’s a great honor to meet PM Modi personally. We talked about sports and how in 1996 we(Sri Lanka) won the world cup. Prime Minister Modi is the most powerful leader in South Asia, his cricket knowledge is very good,” former Sri Lankan pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas said.
A person well respected around the world: Aravinda de Silva
“He is a person well respected around the world and he has done so much for India… being Prime Minister three times running is remarkable,” Aravinda de Silva, who had won the Man of the Match award in the 1996 World Cup final, said after meeting PM Modi.
First time I have seen a leader like him: Kumara Dharmasena
“It’s the first time I have seen a leader like him… it was fantastic … as the leader of a giant neighbour of Sri Lanka he has given lots of support to our country,” said former off-spinner Kumara Dharmasena who is now an umpire of international repute.
A dream come true: Marvan Atapattu
“It was an extraordinary meeting PM Modi, a leader who has brought India to such heights…it was a dream come true,” Marvan Atapattu, another member of the 1996 heroes, said after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Colombo yesterday.
Transformative leadership since taking office: Romesh Kaluwitharana
Romesh Kaluwitharana acknowledged PM Narendra Modi’s transformative leadership since taking office, which he said has benefitted Sri Lanka. He also expressed his gratitude to India for New Delhi’s support during crises and financial aid in cricket tours.
Flashback
The Sri Lankan team led by Arjuna Ranatunga had defeated Australia by 7 wickets in the final in Lahore on March 17 to lift the ODI cricket world cup for their first and only time while they came second-best in 2007 and 2011, losing to Australia and India respectively in the finals.
Arjuna Ranatunga, however, could not be present in the meeting.
