Sri Lankan cricketers who defied calls to boycott the money-rich Indian Premier League were yesterday branded as traitors at the very doorstep of their keepers Sri Lanka Cricket and warned they could be given the rotten-egg treatment on their return to the country.
A group of protesters led by Buddhist monks calling themselves Ravana Balaya, a reference to an ancient kingdom, denounced the cricketers for continuing their preference for the IPL at a time the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu has launched out on a backlash and threatened more attacks on Sri Lankans in retaliation for Tamil deaths during the war with the Tigers.
“We are convinced that these cricketers are playing for money. People who applaud their victories (for Sri Lanka) will turn against them and throw at them rotten eggs,” declared Iththakande Saddathissa Thera, the Secretary of the Ravana Balaya.
The protesters confronted Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga for a one-to-one meeting but were unable to press home their message.
After returning to their positions outside SLC headquarters the protesting monks accused Ranatunga of showing disrespect and disregarding their cause and swore to continue their agitation by rallying the people.
Ranatunga could not be reached for his reaction.
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage defended the cricketers on whom he has full control saying branding them as traitors was unfair.
