Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has written to the Prime Minister stating  that the state government will not allow the 13 Sri Lankan cricketers in the Indian Premier League  to  play matches in Chennai.

In a letter to the PM, she has said that it was not advisable for the Lankan players, umpires and officials to  visit Tamil Nadu where emotions were running high. “In such a hostile and tense environment, we apprehend that the participation of Sri Lankan players in the IPL tournament, with many games to be played in Chennai, will aggravate an already surcharged atmosphere and further offend the sentiments of the people,” the letter says.

Reacting to the letter, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said the Prime Minister  who is presently not in the country, will decide on the issue after going through the letter.
Ajith Jayasekara, outgoing CEO of Sri Lanka cricket has said that the players have already been intimated of the situation  and it is for them to decide.
The sixth edition of the IPL is scheduled to be held from April 3 and will be played in different locations in the country over 45 days. 10 matches are to be played in Chennai.Jayalalithaa has noted in her letter that all the IPL teams had Sri Lankan players on them.

Sri Lankan players in the IPL:

•     Nuwan Kulasekara and Akila Dhananjaya (Chennai Super Kings)

•     Jeevan Mendis and Mahela Jayawardene (Delhi Daredevils)

•     Sachithra Senanayake (Kolkata Knight Riders)

•     Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)

•     Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews (Pune Warriors)

•     Kushal Janith Perera (Rajasthan Royals)

•     Muttiah Muralitharan and Tillakaratne Dilshan (Royal     Challengers)

•     Kumar Sangakarra and Thisara Perera (Sunrisers Hyderabad)