NEW DELHI, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Saturday inaugurated a stadium in the island nation's Jaffna area.
While the Sri Lankan president was present at the state-of-the-art stadium, which was renovated recently with Indian aid, Modi joined the event through video-conferencing from the national capital New Delhi.
"India will walk side by side with Sri Lanka as it charts its own path to progress," Modi said in his address after the inauguration.
He added: "Our relations are not limited to confines of our two governments, but reside in our rich culture, art and language."
Both leaders also witnessed a yoga demonstration at the Duraiappah Stadium by 8,000 participants ahead of the International Yoga Day on June 21.
The Duraiappah Stadium, named in honour of a former mayor of Jaffna, late Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah, had been lying defunct since 1997.
The renovated stadium, with a seating capacity of 1,800, will now provide the infrastructure to promote sports and recreational activities for the youth of Jaffna.
