Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara faces racism in London?

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 00:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kumar Sangakkara, the classy batsman of Sri Lanka, carries an image of a gentleman. He is quite popular across the cricketing world and known to be a very humble, polite and content cricketer.

Just recently in the World Cup, he had scored four centuries which defines his class. In a rather sad development, Sangakkara has shared his views through a tweet pointing out towards a possible case of racism.

Sangakkara was reportedly interrogated by an immigration official at a London airport. What is more pinching that he has been travelling to the United Kingdom for over 15 years but legendary cricketer Sangakkara, on last Friday experienced quite an ugly side of immigration for the first time.

The Sri Lankan star cricketer was reportedly questioned repeatedly by an immigration officer when he arrived to play for the county team Surrey. All this happened, despite him visiting the UK just weeks back for a county match vs Essex.

The unfortunate incident - details of which were not revealed by Sangakkara - had clearly left the cricketer shaken.

Sangakkara has tweeted, “Back in London last night. Had a horrendous experience with a rude, patronising and extremely discourteous UK immigration officer.”

This was further followed by a series of other messages on the micro-blogging site.

“I understand the need for vigilance completely but common courtesy and manners is not too much to ask for,” he has described.

On a different note, fortunately for him, the other members of the immigration staff were more polite. As he tweeted, “Luckily the rest of the UK immigration officers were lovely. Coming to the UK for 15 years and first time I have encountered this.”

It is worthwhile to mention that Sangakkara has had a sparkling cricketing career - one that is scripted around the world, through his unabated hard work.

However, it is apprehended that in Sri Lanka, several reports are seeing the latest unfortunate incident as a possible case of racism. Sangakkara himself pointed towards the same in his final message.

“No matter colour, religion or fame every well intentioned traveller deserves courtesy. Luckily for me it was one person and just this once,” he wrote. (Source: http://www.merinews.com/)