India-Lanka ties not limited to confines of govts, says PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday dedicated Duraiappah Stadium, named in honour of a former Mayor

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday dedicated Duraiappah Stadium, named in honour of a former Mayor of Jaffna late Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah who was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

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On the occasion, Modi said, via video-conferencing from New Delhi, that India strongly believed that its economic growth must bring benefits to its neighbours. Speaking during the function, Sirisena said Lanka was committed to strengthening bilateral relations with India even though there may be wrong understandings and interpretations at times.

The stadium, not in use from 1997, the stadium once laid bare the hidden brutalities of the civil war when at least 23 human skeletons, including those of some disappeared children buried secretly, were discovered in 1999.

“Our relations are not limited to the confines of our two governments, they reside in the rich context of our history, culture, language, art and geography. India strongly believes that its economic growth must drive and bring benefit to its neighbours. The stadium is a symbol of optimism and development. An arena of prosperous and healthy future of Jaffna’s youth. It demonstrates your deter mination to shed the legacy of violence and pursue the path of economic progress,” Modi said.

The Lankan president said that the stadium is a centre for “reconciliation because in a stadium you do not feel creed, race, religion or any differences. Sports and playground are the symbol of reconciliation. It is the centre of reconciliation,” Sirisena said.

“We could not have asked for a more fitting start and tribute to the International Day of Yoga, Modi said.