New York City Mayor’s chat with Sri Lankan comedian goes viral

Colombo , Feb 19 (Daily Mirror) -New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has drawn attention among Sri Lankan social media users after a recent Instagram and TikTok video showed him in a casual street-side conversation with a Sri Lankan comedian.

In the video, Mamdani is seen walking and chatting with New York-based Sri Lankan comedian Shenuque in a light-hearted exchange.

During the conversation, the comedian asked the mayor, “My mom wants to know how can I be a good Sri Lankan boy?” noting that many South Asian parents are now comparing their children to Mamdani, who became the city’s youngest mayor at the age of 34, as well as its first Indian American and Muslim mayor.

Responding humorously, Mamdani referred to Sri Lanka’s legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan and his famous delivery, the “doosra,” which appears to spin one way before sharply turning the other.

“You know the phrase, ‘Never let them know your first move’? I would argue that has Sri Lankan roots,” Mamdani said in the video. “Because Muttiah Muralitharan, the famous spin bowler from Sri Lanka, had a doosra — you think it’s going one way, it’s going the other.”

He further added that one of the key lessons he has learned from the Sri Lankan community is the importance of being prepared and not revealing one’s next move.