Former cricketer and minister Arjuna Ranatunga urged all Sri Lankan cricketers, who are playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), to come and stand in support of their country during ongoing economic crises.
Sir Lanka is fighting a critical economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity that affecting a large number of people in the nation. The economy has been in a crucial condition since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arjuna Ranatunga told ANI “Our cricketers are lavishly playing in the IPL and haven’t spoken anything in favor of their nation yet. These cricketers are working for the cricket board under the ministry and they are scared to speak against the government. Now it is time that they have to take a step to come forward and gave statements in support of the protest.”
Earlier, Sri Lankan players like Wanindu Hasarnaga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa also supported the ongoing protest against the economic crisis.
Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign, which has affected its capacity to import fuel and food. The storage of essential goods has asked Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. The economic situation has led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Arjuna also told, “I am pretty sure I know the players who are playing in the IPL and I don’t want to mention them but I want them to halt their job for a week and stand in support of the protests”.
Prime Minister Mahindra Rajapaksa in a special address to the nation has requested its citizens to remain calm and stop taking stress to enable the government to resolve the current crucial situation.
