Colombo: At his meeting with Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning cricketers on Sunday, former swashbuckling opener and current national coach Sanath Jayasuriya made a cricket-related request to Narendra Modi.
Thanking Prime Minister Modi for India’s help to the island nation during its financial crisis, Jayasuriya requested his assistance in building a cricket ground in Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka.
“When we had unrest, problems in Sri Lanka, you and the Indian government helped us a lot. We are always grateful to you for helping Sri Lanka. As the coach of Sri Lanka, at the moment we play all over Sri Lanka except Jaffna. If India can help us to bring international ground in Jaffna, there will be a big help for the people in Jaffna North and Eastern parts…I have a small request, if this can be done?” Jayasuriya said during the World Cup-winning team’s interaction with Modi.
It may have been an unexpected request, but Modi wasn’t taken aback. In fact, he replied like a true leader of a bigger nation.
“I am pleased to hear such words from Jayasuriya. India has always maintained a ‘Neighbourhood First’ approach. We help our neighbouring countries as soon as possible. Myanmar was recently hit by an earthquake. We were the first responders,” the Indian PM replied.
“It is India’s responsibility to help our neighbours. When the economic crisis occurred, we wanted Sri Lanka to come out of it. Today, I announced several projects here. I am happy that you are worried about Jaffna,” he added.
“It will send a strong message that a cricket leader wants international matches to be held in Jaffna. I assure you that my team will take a note and see what can be done,” Modi assured.
Check out Modi’s interaction with Lankan cricketers in the video shared on X by the PM:
Jayasuriya apart, Kumar Dharmasena, Aravinda de Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana and Maravan Atapattu met the PM, and presented him a memento on the occasion.
The Arjuna Ranatunga-led Sri Lankan team thrashed India in the semifinal at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens and went on to beat Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on March 17, 1996.
