Sri Lankan batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya may have been an arch-rival and headache for Indian bowlers on the field but off the field, he seems to share a warm relationship with India. While expressing dismay over the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka he expressed his gratitude towards India for the help which was being provided and called India the " Big Brother. "

"You know as always as a neighbor, the big brother next to our country has been helping us… We are very grateful to the Indian government and the Prime Minister (Modi)," Jayasurya said.

His former team-mate and world-cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga too expressed gratitude towards India and PM Modi calling India the " Big Brother. "He said: "India has been an elder brother to us. They are looking at our needs, like petrol and medicines. India has been helping us quite a lot." He also said PM Modi was very generous to give the grant to start Jaffna International Airport.

Sri Lanka due to its financial woes is facing an acute power shortage due to the unavailability of fuel, to ease same India has sent in a total of 270,000 tonnes of fuel to the island nation. India also announced $1 billion as a credit to Sri Lanka to help shore up the sinking economy and keep their food prices and fuel costs under check.

Besides, RBI has extended a currency swap of US dollars 400 million and deferred payments owed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka owed to RBI under the Asian Clearance Union worth several hundred million dollars. India’s prompt assistance to the people of Sri Lanka at this hour has been appreciated by all sections of Sri Lankan society.

Several state hospitals issued letters stating that surgeries and lab tests would be suspended due to the prevailing drug shortage. The Peradeniya Hospital for instance announced its suspension of surgeries, but following Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar’s intervention, the hospital resumed surgeries. This all help is being done under the neighborhood first policy of India.