To play or not to play?

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With Sri Lankan cricketers being prevented from playing IPL matches in Chennai due to rising tensions in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the question of whether they should boycott the lucrative T20 tournament is becoming more relevant each day. We asked the public what they thought was the right move for our players.

We should not go and play there. They are talking against Sri Lanka so we must not participate. Maybe players like Lasith Malinga will go because he has previously mentioned that he does what he wants to do. Chathuri Wimalaratne (Student)	We should go there and play to show them we are not affected by these tactics. Then there will be participants from Sri Lanka and we will actually watch the tournament to see how our guys are faring. Abdul Rahuman (Student)	There is no use for us to play. If they are not allowed in one part of the country why should they play in other parts? The Indian cricket authorities shouldn’t have let something like this happen to our cricketers because sport should not mix with politics. Riyaj Fassi (Private sector employee)
This problem has two sides to it. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board can say don’t go because players are already under contract. On the other hand, they are also under contract with the IPL. So I think individual players should decide what is best for them. Madawa Warnapura (Club cricket player)	We should boycott this tournament. In this tournament players are playing for money. If players don’t have security and if no-one takes responsibility, our players should not participate. Nandasiri Tennekoon (Colombo Hockey Tournament Secretary)	I think whatever decision the players make should be based on whether they feel adequate security is being provided to them at the various venues they’re playing in. Stanley Amerasekera (Doctor)
I think we should participate in this tournament because cricket is what we are good at, and this is an opportunity for our players to play with the best in the business. I don’t like when any international issue gets mixed up with sports. Sports should remain clean. W. Walgama (Security guard)	If we want to make a statement then we should participate, but with the prevailing situation in India we must think twice. Our cricketers were targeted in Pakistan once before so we should be watchful against similar attacks occurring again. Winura Wijekoon (Junior national hockey player)	We should play. Our cricketers should be able to go to every country and play. The Indians should be able to come here and we should be able to go there. Sport is not like politics; everyone watches it and enjoys it regardless of any differences that may exist between them. N.A Wimalasiri (Private sector employee)