by Rex Clementine

England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka later this month is in jeopardy after the English Foreign Office warned English nationals against touring the island. Sri Lanka is facing political instability and uncertainty after the country’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a state of emergency. The President’s decision followed after she sacked three ministers and suspended parliament.

In the recent past, the English cricket team has remained extremely sensitive to issues relating to security and has always worked in consultation with their Foreign Office. However, issuing out a statement from Bangladesh, the media relations officer of the English cricket team Andrew Walpole gave out some hope, “As far as we’re concerned the tour is on. It is an evolving situation and we will do whatever the ECB tells us,” his statement said. England are in Bangladesh preparing to play the three matches ODI series. The English are scheduled to arrive in Colombo on November 13 to play three tests and three ODIs.

Together with the English cricket team, a large contingent of supporters too are expected to arrive in the island and it’s believed that even if the tour goes on, there would be a large drop in the number of supporters.

Meanwhile the Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) remained optimistic that the tour would go ahead. “We are absolutely confident that the tour would go ahead. We have experienced states of emergency in the past and we have lived with it,” he said. Although Tennakoon said that he was not aware of the announcement made by the British Foreign Office, he remained optimistic of the tour taking place, “We have spoken to the ECB officials and there are no problems. They have made clear that there are no reservations against touring,” the Chief Executive said.