SL confers its highest award for foreign head of state on PM

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday honoured PM Narendra Modi with the

Mitra Vibhushana award

.
"This honour, which was introduced in 2008, is conferred upon heads of states and govt for their friendship, and PM Modi highly deserves this honour; that is what we firmly believe," Dissanayake said.
Earlier in the day, Modi was accorded a historic welcome at Colombo's Independence Square - the first time that

Sri Lanka

has honoured a visiting leader in this manner. Modi, who is on a state visit from April 4 to 6, was received at the airport by six senior ministers.
Later, Modi interacted with a few members of the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan cricket team: Marvan Atapattu, Aravinda de Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumara Dharmasena, Upul Chandana, and Romesh Kaluwitharana. Atapattu said, "It was truly a dream come true." Dharmasena said, "As the leader of a giant neighbour, Sri Lanka has benefitted from his support. It was fantastic to meet him."