Security tightened for visiting SL cricket team in Pakistan

President assures maximum security for visiting Sri Lanka cricket team in Pakistan

By Anjula Mahika Weeraratne

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that all possible measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the Sri Lankan cricket team currently participating in the Tri-Nation T20 series in Pakistan, official sources said yesterdaty.  

His assurance comes in the wake of a bomb blast in Islamabad, which has heightened concerns over the security situation surrounding the tournament.  

The Sri Lankan team, now based in Rawalpindi, is competing alongside Pakistan and Zimbabwe in the ongoing series. Only one match has been played so far, with several more scheduled in the coming days.  

The President, who personally spoke with Sri Lanka Cricket officials reaffirmed the government’s full commitment to safeguarding the players. He instructed officials to work closely with Pakistani authorities to guarantee the team’s protection throughout the tour. 

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Sampath Thuiyakontha has held discussions with Pakistan’s top defence officials, resulting in enhanced security arrangements for the Sri Lankan players, including special protection at their hotel and around their practice and match venues.  

President Dissanayake also recalled that during the 1996 Cricket World Cup, when several countries declined to tour Sri Lanka due to security fears, Pakistan extended its support by visiting the island, a gesture Sri Lanka continues to value deeply.  

He described the team’s continued participation in the Pakistan series as an expression of gratitude and emphasised that the Sri Lankan government, together with Pakistan’s authorities, will ensure the team’s safety until the conclusion of the tournament.