Koran says; right or wrong, Muslims have to back Muslims. Read it. If you can't locate the relevant verses, I shall pin point it for you.

Finally this also is the fault of Sinhala Buddhists!

However I am relieved to learn that Muslims have a place to go when Sri Lanka is no more tolerable to them - unlike the Tamils the West is not prepared to accept them.

"It is known that while the Burghers had a substantial presence in Sri Lanka their preference was for the Australian team above all others,..." I wish to defend my Burger friends against this most unfair allegation. They never had any political ambitions nor are they religious fanatics. So they never bore an iota of grudge against Sri Lanka. Even implementation of Sinhala only they acknowledged as a inevitable part of the end of colonial era. In fact every Burger person I meet in Canada/Australia talks of Sri Lanka with affection - most of them visit Sri Lanka annually.

Let me raise my hat to my Tamil brothers and sisters too in this regard. In writer's own words: "neither ethnic group made its preference known in an overt and obtrusive way" I have always held the view and told my friends that the average Tamil is a more gentlemanly character than the average Sinhalese.

I believe that UN must compel Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Bangaladesh to open up borders for immigration and also adopt a policy for birth control common to all the peoples on the globe.

Since I am from Colombo who have mingled with every community in Sri Lanka, I can confirm that it is very true, I have personally witnessed that the Muslim fanatics who wear a cap and a beard always cheer the Pakistan team in every cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Even the Muslim women wearing the black Hijab come and wave the green flags and cheer the Pakistan team. In Colombo, they even light fire crackers when the Pakistan team beat Sri Lanka. The reason being that Pakistan is the ONLY Muslim country playing cricket (Bangladesh started only recently). When I asked one of my Muslim friend why the Muslims support Pakistan, his answer was the Muslim cricket players in Sri Lanka are discriminated.

On the other hand, even though India is a Hindu country and even the upcountry Tamils are from India, I have NEVER seen a Tamil in Colombo supporting the Indian team in the Sri Lanka – India matches. Even the LTTE terrorists I believe supported the Sri Lankan cricket team. The Tamils know very well that in the Indian team there are hardly any Tamils but in the Sri Lankan team there are Tamils like Murali and Russel.

If we take the Burghers, I have NEVER seen any Burgher supporting England or Australia; they always support the Sri Lankan team.

I am not sure about the Muslims and Tamils in rural areas or in the provincial towns and the Burghers who settled in Australia. There may be a few Tamil individuals supporting India and Burgher individuals supporting Australia but they do not expose it and celebrate by waving flags and lighting fire crackers.

At the end of the day, it is my choice whom I support, I may be a Sri Lankan but support South Africa when they play against Sri Lanka. This should not be a serious issue. These were things that have been happening in Sri Lanka for many decades and cannot be changed easily.

The problem is today in Sri Lanka, since we have a nationalist government, too many ultra-nationalist racists are masquerading as Patriots and providing ill advice to the government, they are trying to make mountains out of ant hills in order to be in the good books of the nationalist government.

I copletely redicule your view that Tamils silently support the Indian team. In fact the majority of Tamils supported the Sri Lankan team even when the war as at its ugliest heights. Even very strong tamil natioanalist did it. They did that covertly, a complete opposite to what you write. Now the war is over the support for the sri lankan team is even more. i think Tamils know the difference between a family feud and a conflict with the neighbours. Also its about the sense of belonging. i can make my own judgement about muslims on this but i wont. Likewise could you please refrain from making judgements about the other communities? thank you.

I think you are missing the bigger picture.

Can patriotism be reduced to support for a cricket team?

Is that all it takes to be a patriot?

Why split hairs over a game. These days we take everything so seriously there is no fun even in even watching a match. All sorts of allegations and bother about this and that.

I suppose if it were horse racing we should cheer the Sri Lankan Horse. Or if it was Schumacher against one of ours we should cheer our guy. Racism and Communal feelings cloud our minds and wipe out any sportsmanship. Take it easy and enjoy the cricket.

I don't see what the fuss is all about. What matters is it didn't turn ugly and erupt into violence at the grounds.At the end of the day, everybody had a good time at the cricket, and went home peacefully. That's all, what matters isn't it ? Or in a lighter vein, perhaps , it was their way of protesting the absence of Jehan Mubarak and Maharoof in the national team !

Every man , woman and child, has the right to support whichever side he or she wants. It is regrettable this is good enough reason for an article to be written on the subject.

In Australia, there are plenty who support Sri Lanka, and not all of them are from Sri Lankan origin.

Every man has his price ! Explain the hordes of Sri Lankan youth with Zimbabwe Flags during the recent Pakistan Zimbabwe match ?

One of the points may be that these alleged Sri Lankan citizens' supported Pakistan against their mother Country but then again Isn't that what freedom of expression is about ? Not to mention the power of money it may have been a free match ticket and some pocket money in this case.

Why give such weightiness to the statements of corrupt, non principled politicians ?

In this discussion we are missing a vital point. Cricket used to be a game of gentlemen! Win or lose it does not or did not matter in the end, but how the game was played and how the playeers behaved really mattered in the old days. This game has been reduced to the current level because vandals get involved in it. So much so, winning by hook or crook (like national elections)is now the name of the game!

It should not matter who is cheering which team. In fact I presume there is a theory of enjoying a game. One naturally takes one side depending on the mental out-look of the spectator and gets absorbed in the game as if he is also an active poarticipant in the game so that the game generates interest in his mind. To some, it could be country based, some it could be ethnic based and others it could be performance based. It is only natural.

It is utter foolishness to view this as a betrayal of the country and even castigate them as traitors to the nation. We keep chanting this nationalistic manthra so often, we begin to get scared of our own shadows.

If the rulers or their henchmen want to entrench patriotism to that lunatic extend, they should work towards it, rather than adopting dictator mentality. It will never work. On the contrary it will only polarize the people's attitude towards the country.

"The allegation about Lankan Muslims supporting Pakistan against Sri Lanka in World Cup cricket"

This is not an allegation, but an ugly fact.

First I recall an incident happened during my schooldays.
I used to visit the library during intervals to see newspapers.

My school being an elite secular school in Colombo, there were many Muslim students from upper class families (NOT poor Muslims). In the sports page of an English daily there was a table of Test baller rankings. (This happened about 15 years ago) In that Waqar & Wasim were on top and Murali was still emerging and was somewhere down the list. Two, much younger Muslim students (grade 7/8) came and were reading it while I was reading a paper adjacent to the desk. They were discussing the rankings and seems to be delighted seeing it. But what made me outraged/furious & shocked was that they were ridiculing Murali for being lower down and laughing at it. Being an elder student I wanted to shout at them but kept my mouth shut but I never forgot that incident.

So this is a reality that's been there for a long time. I am living nearby to Kaleliya, where a lot of Muslims reside. There was great tension between Sinhalese & Muslims, many years ago when Muslims cheered Pakistan while they were touring SL. So this is not limited to colombo.
Most disgusting part was that they were supporting Pakistan even at matches where people like Maharoof were playing for SL. There is a Muslim worker at my office who says he support SL team though most of his neighbors at Maligawatta cheer for Pakistan.

Some people compare this to SL expats in UK supporting SL though they are UK citizens. But I wonder whether SL Muslims are Pakistanis. Wonder they would ever return to that chaotic state called Pakistan.

This is something we have used to accept and no open discussion was there. You cannot force them to support SL. It's their right, though seems quite unethical.
Apart from this unnecessary behaviour of Pakistani supporters, SL & PAK has excellent cricketing relations and are best of friends. So we do not want to send wrong signals to PAK by criticizing Pakistani supporters of SL origin. PAK cricketers have made SL home during this world cup and we want to treat them well as closest friends.

This shows what a tolerant society we are. If this happened in India it would be a different story.
Late Mr.Ashroff tried to change this by openly supporting SL during 1996 worldcup. (Infact whole Pakistan supported SL)

I think Ulamas has a responsibility in this regard. They must teach young Muslims that they should be loyal to their country.

"A Muslim friend whom I contacted for information over the telephone burst out that for many years the Pakistani cricket teams have been a disgrace to cricket, a disgrace to Pakistan, and a disgrace to Islam." Well this writer is not happy with the Pakistani team. It seems the writer himself will support PAK if they were doing well & not cheating.
Though Muslims support for Pak is emotional and overt, Tamils do support India. Most of Tamil papers glorify India and Indian cricketers than their SL counterparts. (You can gauge it by no. of articles and photos)
May be this is because the minorities do not have a sense of belonging to SL. Government should try to address the root causes that generate such feelings.

On the other hand these Pak/Ind supporters should think a bit deeper and try to be part of SL nation without blaming the majority for anything and everything.

If you are a Sinhala nationalist you would be delighted to see that Muslims & Tamils openly accept their allgance to PAK & IND, which automatically give Sinhalese the sole right to SL!

"One is that to apply what is true of Muslims in a small part of the island to all our Muslims, or even to a substantial proportion of them, would amount to racism, revealing a stereotyping process that is typical of racist strategy."
Blaming others will not solve your problems. Not supporting PAK team just because they are Muslims is utterly racist.

As a Sinhalese I pray that these things will not lead to unnecessary communal violence.

It a problem for Muslims to overcome themselves. They should do that because they are a responsible community with great promise in SL.

By the way, I know this comment may hurt some moderate Muslims. I know that there are so many of them.
In fact today I gave all 3 of my preferential votes to a young Muslim candidate who is contesting for Mirigama Pradeshiya Sabha, which is 95% Sinhalese Buddhist. He is a moderate who has done a lot of work to the area and a role model for other Muslims to follow. I think their numbers will grow while the number of Pak supporters shrink as SL Muslims make big strides in SL social fabric and with that improve their self esteem.

Having said this we can forgive SL Muslims & Tamils of recent Indian origin for supporting PAK & IND due to their natural instincts, while serving SL to the best of their ability. But SL Tamils remain hopeless and they are demonstrating against SL cricketers when they travel UK/Canada and Aussie.

CONCLUSION: Let the time solve this issue/non issue.

Anyone can support any one in sports. Patriotism is differnt and it cannot be judged solely on supporting a foreign team.

Secondly, some muslims may have done these while more sinhalese nay have concealed their support fearing reprisals. For that none can generalise muslim society.

I am a UK citizen and living in the UK for the past 18 years and I have supported Srilankan Team always. If it is based on patriotism does that mean I should have had supported UK team.

Thirdly, wherever the matches take place,normally we see few spectators from host country waving the flags of the opppsite team, doe sthat mean they are not patritic?

Muslims need not to go anywhere, they have a history of more than 1000 years in Srilanka. If they are considered as alien then everyone living in Srilanka is an alien except the offsprings of yakku and kuveni. Muslims joined with sinhalese kings and have fought against the portughese and sacrificing their lives. We should read the history.

These are baseless allegations to gain some political postings. Mr. Sumathipala's father was very good with muslims which I have seen personally. Mr. Sumathipala may be thinking now that he made a mistake because I know how much he is frindly with muslims from his school days.

We will forget and forgiv all thes incidents. Lets unite for th sake of our future generation.

I don't know anything about Muslims in Sri Lanka supporting Pakistan in matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But even if they do, or anyone else does, what's so wrong about it? I don't always support Sri Lanka. Why should that bother anyone?

Lot of comments above carry the opinion that any one is free to support any team.

I have already received a copy of an email asking the Sinhalese to boycott Muslim businesses requesting to further on-pass the mail which I did not. Such an opinion did not arise against the Tamil businesses during the 30 rears of war with LTTE.

I believe it is better for the Muslims to refrain from exercising that freedom and start supporting the Sri Lankan team.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/19/locals-anticipating-pakistan%E2%80%99s-clash-with-australia.html

You should read the comments as well.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/21/sri-lankan-crowds-back-pakistan-in-crucial-game.html

muslims are only supporting pakistanis

but the tamils are definitely not supporting srilanka

india and pakistan.

and we will never ever support these three countries!

Re. Soma’s (20/3/11) comments, I might add that there was no wanting on the part of Cyril Mathew and his ilk to prevent Sinhalese from patronizing Tamil businesses country-wide. At various levels even since, the efforts continue although the bulk of the Sinhalese people have refused to fall prey to this insensible and anti-social act. Remember that self-claimed reincarnation of Dutugemunu – now blessed being placed to take care of the fortunes of the good Buddhists of Kelaniya. True to his toxic nature he has banned Tamil and Muslim businesses in his Holy City. Sadly, the Rajapakse regime – his unabashedly open patrons – have not taken an open stand against this patently illegal act although Naleem Hadjiar’s Bairaha products and St. Anthony’s Gnanam’s Cement and other items remain banned there todate. What people might not know is this doctor without a thesis made covert approaches to both sides “his ban” will be lifted if the “appropriate conditions made by him” to them are met. Both simply rejected the blackmail and cared too hoots. Both established businesses know sooner than later sanity and civility will return to Kelaniya.

The writer of this essay, dealing with the charge of Muslims supporting Pakistan, predictably, moves out of the box and, once more, tries to set the Tamils against the Sinhalese vide “Tamils have a preference for the Indian team” Who told him that?
What right has he to speak for the Tamil people? Tamils remember him as a former senior civil servant and diplomat who counselled the Govt “to starve the Tamils” as a means to break the “backbone of the Tamil struggle” (his words at that time) for power-sharing. I am one of the hundred thousands of Tamils who support the Lankan Cricket side when they play India. What more when VP was around he and his band too were keen supporters of the Lankan side. When Sanath Jayasuriya visited Jaffna long before May 2009 the LTTE-dominated District mobbed him is something Sinhalese appreciated and wrote glowingly in the media. VP apparently had the good sense to separate his politics from Sports. Even in the diaspora multiple thousands of Tamils are paying over US$200 for the duration of the series to watch the Lankans lads play in the World Cup to repeat the 1996 victory. Some keep awake late in the night to watch Sri Lanka play. This writer has to find something more marketable to satisfy his known aversion.

Muslims in the country – and more particularly in recent times – suffer a sense of insecurity is well known. This sense of concern is released via different forms by different individuals and groups spontaneously is an undeniable fact. The way out is to engage the problem and provide solutions under the law. One good example was how the US Govt handled that sensational black salute by those super sprinters of the US Olympic track team (Tommie Smith and John Carlos)from the victory stand in Mexico City in 1968 – at the height of the urban rebellion by the US Afro-Americans. That was handled eminently well by the US Govt. That section of the US citizenry is now a harmonious part of the great American whole.

ISS

This is owing to Sri Lanka Muslim minority being clearly discriminated by the Sinhala majority not only in national cricket but also in domestic affairs by ultra right Sinhala nationalist or chauvinist as they did with the Tamil minority in this country. Even the Christians are discriminated. Their religious campaigns sabotaged, and in few instances, their churches vandalized and torched. Chaminda Vaass is Christian and an example of one who represented Sri Lanka as their most prolific fast bowler in the history of that country's cricket. Chaminda Vaas was instrumental in contributing to Sri Lanka's world cup win in 1996. He was also axed by the Cricket selectors from 2011's world cup squad that may have been very well the decider of whether Sri Lanka could gain that much coveted trophy for a second time.

Here are the Muslim cricketers presently who are clearly being discriminated:
1. Farveez Musharaff
2. Jehan Mubarak

past cricketers who were clearly discriminated.
3. M N Nawaz
4. Roshan Jurangpathy
5. Haroon Musaffar
6. Uvaisul Karnain
7. Several others I have wish not to name out of respect.