Chennai, Sept 2 (IBNS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has ordered for sending back two Sri Lankan football teams which were undergoing visiting Chennai, in continuing turmoil between the Indian state and the neighbouring nation.
The directive from the Chief Minister came after one of the teams, Royal College of Colombo, played a match against the Chennai Customs team at a stadium in the city on Friday, media reports said.
Jayalalithaa also reportedly ordered the suspension of a stadium official for allowing the soccer team to play the "friendly" tie, alleging that the game insulted Tamils.
"The (Nehru) Stadium Officer has no authority to allow matches there and only the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu is authorised to do so,” Jayalalithaa was quoted as saying..
“By using an authority that did not exist, the official had demeaned the sentiments of Tamil people,” she added.
The move comes just over a week after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to halt an ongoing training programme for two Sri Lankan defence personnel at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington near Ooty.
Tensions run high between the administrations of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, with the Indian state alleging the perpetual maltreatment of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka - a charge which the government of island nation denies.