Australian Tamils protested against Sri Lanka’s cricket team outside Sydney Cricket Ground today over Sri Lanka’s abysmal human rights record.
Protesters drew attention to Sri Lanka’s ongoing abuses against the Tamil people in the North-East as well as the genocidal offensive that killed tens of thousands of Tamil at the end of the armed conflict in 2009.
Leaflets were handed outside the T20 match, highlighting that Sri Lanka “mixes politics and sport, using cricket to sanitise the image of its blood soaked military.”
“Cricket fans everywhere should take a stand and stop the Sri Lankan government using cricket to whitewash its past and continuing crimes against Eelam Tamils," the leaflet added.
Former cricket player, Ajantha Mendis was on active duty during the armed conflict, as part of the same Sri Lankan Army that stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. After leaving the military, he joined Sri Lanka’s cricket team to play in games around the world.
“The Tamil Refugee Council (TRC) is deeply angered that the Sri Lankan government uses cricket to mask its human rights abuses against Eelam Tamils. Cricket should not hide Sri Lanka’s genocide against Eelam Tamils,” said Aran Mylvaganam, a member of TRC.
Another protest is scheduled to take place on Sunday where Australia and Sri Lanka are set to play another T20 match.
