Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Srilanka President Maithripala Sirisena jointly inaugurated the renovated Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna, the capital city of the North Province of Sri Lanka.
PM Modi &SL President Maithripala Sirisena jointly inaugurate renovated Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna pic.twitter.com/jdiRmXBiqy
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016
President Sirisena was present at the stadium in Jaffna, while Prime Minister Modi joined the event through video-conferencing from Delhi.
The stadium, which is named after former Mayor of Jaffna, late Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah, has been renovated by India at a cost of over Rs 7 crore.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,850 and will provide the necessary infrastructure to promote sports and recreational activities. It will also assist in overall development of the youth of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka.
The stadium, which has not been in use since 1997, witnessed its first major event when students practiced yoga ahead of World Yoga day.
Students in Jaffna(Sri Lanka) practice Yoga ahead of World Yoga Day pic.twitter.com/e7B5pBnhUG
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016
While inaugurating the stadium, President Sirisena said, "This is a historic occasion which will strengthen relations between India and Sri Lanka."
This is a historic occasion which will strengthen relations between India and Sri Lanka- President Sirisena pic.twitter.com/hmADKXN1Rw
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016
"I would like to thank the Indian government for giving us the financial assistance for renovating Duraiappah stadium," he added.
PM Modi also spoke about supporting Sri Lanka in its "path to progress" saying,"Sri Lanka was among the first supporters of the UN resolution on Yoga Day."
India will walk side by side with Sri Lanka as it charts its own path to progress: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/aDByPvx5sH
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016
He added, "Our relations are not limited to the confines of our two governments but reside in our rich culture,art and language."
Our relations are not limited to confines of our two Govts but reside in our rich culture,art and language:PM Modi pic.twitter.com/cdSpzuNLAQ
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 18, 2016
-with inputs from ANI