Protest in Sri Lanka over Hindi song played for cricketers at ICC Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sent a letter of apology after protests sparked in Sri Lanka's capital on Monday against an incident at the ICC Champions Trophy in England.

A group of Buddhist monks who are members of the Sinhalese hardline organization Power of Ravana handed over a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket demanding that the ICC apologize to Sri Lanka.

The group of monks told media that they were upset by the fact that when the Sri Lankan cricket team participated at the ICC Champions Trophy opening ceremony on June 6 they were greeted by a Hindi song while all other countries were represented with music from their own countries.

"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 thero.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket released a statement insisting that the ICC has apologized for the incident and would complain to the event management company that organized the opening ceremony.

"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 Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga to the ICC regarding the above matter, the International Cricket Council 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.

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