30 March 2013-Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam(pic) has expressed his anxiety and concern over a plethora of issues, including the safety of the Sri Lankan cricket players and other visitors in Tamil Nadu. Sharing his views with the media in New Delhi, High Commissioner Kariyawasam said that politics and sports should not be mixed.
“Number one issue is safety and security of Sri Lankans in India including sports persons; cricketers are very precious to us, so we want their security assured, if they are not going to Chennai makes them more secure to play in India that is good enough; but it is unfortunate that we don’t like politics and sports getting mixed up because that is not a good idea and so we live it to players to decide, the Boards to decide, and IPL (Indian Premier League) to decide as to how they want to go forward, as far as our players security is assured then I have no issue,” said Kariyawasam.
“We were disappointed that India did not vote us but relations between two countries are very deep, very longstanding as I explained it little while ago, it has a very historical connection at people to people level, business connections are very deep and India is a largest investor in Sri Lanka, so our relations will carry on and go forward. These are beeps in our long march towards going forward,” added Kariyawasam.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins from April 3, has been preceded by protests in Tamil Nadu over the Central Government’s weak response to the human rights abuses being committed on Sri Lankan Tamils.
IPL organisers have agreed that no cricketer from Sri Lanka will play in the state. Lawyers are now putting pressure on the central government to impose an overall ban on Sri Lankan players.
The Governing Council of IPL on March 26 said that no Sri Lankan cricketer will feature in its matches that are to be played in Chennai during the sixth edition of the tournament, which commences from April 3.
In a statement issued later by IPL Governing Council, Chairman Rajeev Shukla said that the security of all involved, including players, spectators or those working in the stadiums, is of paramount importance to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Governing Council decided that Sri Lankan players will not participate in the Pepsi IPL 2013 League matches in Chennai and will advise the nine franchises accordingly.
Kariyawasam also hailed the progressive relationship between both the countries, but expressed disappointment for voting against Sri Lanka in UN resolution.
