Sri Lanka Urges India–Pakistan to Keep Politics Out of Sport, Says Namal Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka has long served as a neutral venue for cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, offering a platform that strengthens bilateral engagement and regional cooperation, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has said.
Speaking in a special interview with NDTV, Mr Rajapaksa stressed that sport should not be entangled with politics, even amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Despite security concerns in Pakistan in previous years, Sri Lanka toured the country, he noted, underlining Colombo’s view that cricket and diplomacy must remain separate.
While acknowledging the “sensitive political climate” between India and Pakistan, Mr Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka continues to work closely with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Government of Pakistan to promote sporting ties between the two nations.
He added that India–Pakistan cricket fixtures hosted in Sri Lanka have provided a significant boost to the country’s recovering economy. Large numbers of Indian and Pakistani fans travelling to Colombo for matches have filled leading hotels, he said, generating much-needed revenue in the wake of the island’s recent financial crisis.
Sri Lanka, still rebuilding after a severe economic downturn, remains grateful for the assistance extended by both India and Pakistan during periods of conflict and economic hardship, Mr Rajapaksa said.
He also highlighted the importance of technical cooperation with India to raise standards in Sri Lankan sport. Programmes such as India’s Khelo India initiative, as well as expertise from the Sports Authority of India, could help develop athletes in track and field and other Olympic disciplines, he said.
Mr Rajapaksa, a former sports minister, said such collaboration had been a priority during his tenure.
Looking ahead, he revealed that Sri Lanka would welcome the opportunity to host matches from the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Colombo within the next five to ten years.
He also pledged Sri Lanka’s full support for India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, saying a successful bid would benefit not only Sri Lanka but the wider Indian Ocean region and its young athletes.
