Protests in Sri Lanka over Hindi song at ICC Champions Trophy

Colombo: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sent a letter of apology to Sri Lanka for the country`s cricket team being greeted by a Hindi song at the ICC Champions Trophy opening ceremony June 6 while all other teams were represented with music from their own countries. The faux pas sparked protests in the Sri Lankan capital Monday.

A group of Buddhist monks who are members of the Sinhalese hardline organisation, Power of Ravana, handed over a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket demanding that the ICC apologise to Sri Lanka. "No official protests were lodged by the puppet officials of Sri Lanka Cricket even though they were present at the event," the letter said. It was signed by the Convener of Power of Ravana, Iththakande Saddhatissa. However, Sri Lanka Cricket released a statement insisting that the ICC has apologised for the incident and would complain to the event management company that organised the opening ceremony in London. "With reference to the Hindi song which was played while the Sri Lankan national flag was paraded onto the field, at the opening ceremony of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in England. As concerns raised by the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket Nishantha Ranatunga to the ICC regarding the above matter, the ICC Tournament Director Chris Tetley has written to Sri Lanka Cricket regretting the incident," said the statement. Tetley stated that the ICC will take this matter for discussion with the event management company who were entrusted to handle the opening ceremony. IANS