A top Sri Lankan cricketer and former international player has taken to social media to complain about his treatment at the hands of an immigration officer when he came to the UK to play in his latest match for county side Surrey.
Kumar Sangakkara has been travelling to Britain from Sri Lanka to play for more than 15 years and was last in Britain a few weeks ago for the Surrey versus Essex county cricket clash.
But when arriving in London last week for his latest match, he claimed he had an “horrendous” experience with an immigration officer.
Mr Sangakkara did not reveal the nature of the incident, but he took to Twitter to complain about his treatment.
He tweeted: "Back in London last night. Had a horrendous experience with a rude, patronising and extremely discourteous UK immigration officer."
He also used the micro-blogging site to complain further about the problems he had encountered, but added: "Luckily the rest of the UK immigration officers were lovely. Coming to the UK for 15 years and first time I have encountered this.
"I understand the need for vigilance completely but common courtesy and manners is not too much to ask for.”
Questions are now being asked in Sri Lanka about the treatment that the country’s former international cricket captain faced when he arrived in the UK. Press reports in his home country have asked whether the star had faced racism from the unnamed immigration officer.
In his final Twitter message on the subject, Mr Sangakkara also suggested that this may be the case.
He wrote: "No matter colour, religion or fame every well intentioned traveller deserves courtesy. Luckily for me it was one person and just this once.”