Sri Lanka has raised with Beijing the issue of Chinese-made doormats featuring the island's national lion flag being sold through online retail giant Amazon.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry on Friday said it had called for an inquiry into the sale of non-slip doormats on Amazon with the print of Sri Lanka's national flag. It has taken up the issue with the Chinese embassy in Colombo, and also asked Colombo's mission in Beijing to track down the manufacturer.

The ministry has also instructed the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington to "follow up on the matter" with Amazon.

"There have been recent reports on social media platforms of a 'Sri Lanka Flag Non-Slip Doormat' which is being advertised for online purchase on the Amazon website. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage has informed the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing to contact the manufacturer concerned in China and also has brought to the attention of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, the advertising of Sri Lanka's national flag as a doormat. The Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC has also been instructed to follow up on the matter with the advertising platform Amazon," the Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement, dated March 12.

Several Chinese vendors on Amazon were offering the non-slip doormat with Sri Lanka's flag on it at prices ranging from $10 to $24.

<img alt="The Chinese doormat in question" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bae459d9-dfdc-4b28-9224-b7257e9cec03" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202021-03-13%20at%2012.41.56.jpeg" />

China, in response, has assured that it supports Sri Lanka, and that an enquiry has been initiated into the matter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On Flag Mat issue: 
 
National Flags must be fully respected. 
 
Concern has been conveyed for investigation. 
 
Similar products are sold by sellers from various countries on Amazon. 
 
China has been supporting Sri Lanka for its peace, prosperity and dignity for decades. 
 
full text:👇 <a href="https://t.co/sSnOSkp2xP">pic.twitter.com/sSnOSkp2xP</a>
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChinaEmbSL/status/1370430123644657665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The ensuing matter has kicked up a major diplomatic storm, especially on the social media.

"This is how the Chinese see Sri Lanka," said one Facebook user.

Another suggested the doormat was a forewarning of how future relations might play out in light of Sri Lanka's huge debt to China: "May be it's the sign (of how) they gonna treat us when we fail to pay their loans."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-push-for-coronavirus-vaccine-in-tokyo-olympics-a-distraction-from-uighurs-370079">Also read |&nbsp;China's push for coronavirus vaccine in Tokyo Olympics - a distraction from Uighurs</a>

"If we are unable to pay our debts, they will print our flag on toilet paper for sure," wrote another on Facebook.

Sri Lanka is highly sensitive to what it sees as any misuse of its national flag as well as Buddhist symbols. In 2010, Sri Lanka prevented US rap star Akon from visiting the country over one of his music videos, which featured scantily clad women dancing in front of a Buddha statue.

In 2002, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ordered police and customs to seize CDs of Buddha Bar lounge music.

The US e-commerce giant has earlier also faced backlash over selling controversial items on its platform.

Amazon once received a lot of criticism for selling briefs and shorts with Lord Ganesha's image on them, and at other instances, for showing a golden temple, India's flag, and Lord Ganesha's photos on doormats and toilet seats.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crime-against-humanity-and-genocide-us-condemns-china-for-abuse-of-uighurs-tibetans-370024">Also read |&nbsp;'Crime against humanity and genocide': US condemns China for abuse of Uighurs, Tibetans</a>

(with inputs from Sidhant Sibal)

Sri Lanka has raised with Beijing the issue of Chinese-made doormats featuring the island's national lion flag being sold through online retail giant Amazon. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry on Friday said it had called for an inquiry into the sale of non-slip doormats on Amazon with the print of Sri Lanka's national flag.

Sri Lanka has raised with Beijing the issue of Chinese-made doormats featuring the island's national lion flag being sold through online retail giant Amazon. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry on Friday said it had called for an inquiry into the sale of non-slip doormats on Amazon with the print of Sri Lanka's national flag. It has taken up the issue with the Chinese embassy in Colombo, and also asked Colombo's mission in Beijing to track down the manufacturer. The ministry has also instructed the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington to "follow up on the matter" with Amazon. "There have been recent reports on social media platforms of a 'Sri Lanka Flag Non-Slip Doormat' which is being advertised for online purchase on the Amazon website. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage has informed the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing to contact the manufacturer concerned in China and also has brought to the attention of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, the advertising of Sri Lanka's national flag as a doormat. The Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC has also been instructed to follow up on the matter with the advertising platform Amazon," the Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement, dated March 12. Several Chinese vendors on Amazon were offering the non-slip doormat with Sri Lanka's flag on it at prices ranging from $10 to $24. China, in response, has assured that it supports Sri Lanka, and that an enquiry has been initiated into the matter. On Flag Mat issue: National Flags must be fully respected. Concern has been conveyed for investigation. Similar products are sold by sellers from various countries on Amazon. China has been supporting Sri Lanka for its peace, prosperity and dignity for decades. full text:👇 pic.twitter.com/sSnOSkp2xP — Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) March 12, 2021 × The ensuing matter has kicked up a major diplomatic storm, especially on the social media. "This is how the Chinese see Sri Lanka," said one Facebook user. Another suggested the doormat was a forewarning of how future relations might play out in light of Sri Lanka's huge debt to China: "May be it's the sign (of how) they gonna treat us when we fail to pay their loans." Also read | China's push for coronavirus vaccine in Tokyo Olympics - a distraction from Uighurs "If we are unable to pay our debts, they will print our flag on toilet paper for sure," wrote another on Facebook. Sri Lanka is highly sensitive to what it sees as any misuse of its national flag as well as Buddhist symbols. In 2010, Sri Lanka prevented US rap star Akon from visiting the country over one of his music videos, which featured scantily clad women dancing in front of a Buddha statue. In 2002, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ordered police and customs to seize CDs of Buddha Bar lounge music. The US e-commerce giant has earlier also faced backlash over selling controversial items on its platform. Amazon once received a lot of criticism for selling briefs and shorts with Lord Ganesha's image on them, and at other instances, for showing a golden temple, India's flag, and Lord Ganesha's photos on doormats and toilet seats. Also read | 'Crime against humanity and genocide': US condemns China for abuse of Uighurs, Tibetans (with inputs from Sidhant Sibal)

Sri Lanka raises concern with Beijing over Chinese doormats featuring its national flag

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will lodge a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against an &quot;unacceptable&quot; reprieve for England batsman Alex Hales in the third and final test at Lord&#39;s, SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala has said. 
 
Nuwan Pradeep clean bowled Hales, then on 58, in England&#39;s second innings on Sunday, but it was adjudged a no-ball by umpire Rod Tucker, even though replays suggested a fraction of the paceman&#39;s shoe was behind the popping crease. 
 
Hales capitalised on the reprieve to score 94 before he was finally dismissed, but his reprieve prompted the visitors to briefly unfurl a Sri Lankan flag from the balcony in a perceived mark of protest. 
 
&quot;The management on tour is very sad about that decision and it will be reported to the ICC,&quot; Sumathipala, who termed it &quot;unacceptable&quot;, said. 
 
Coach Graham Ford, who complained to match referee Andy Pycroft after Sunday&#39;s play, played down the unfurling of the flag by the team, who have already surrendered the three-test series after crushing defeats in Leeds and Durham. 
 
The SLC chief, however, saw it differently. 
 
&quot;The flag is a symbol,&quot; Sumathipala said. &quot;It is a mark to say we are not happy with the decision. (It was unfurled) To show solidarity and fight back.&quot; 
 
Ford said Tucker had apologised for the mistake and the coach was of the view that front foot no-ball calls should be taken out of the on-field umpire&#39;s hand. 
 
&quot;It just seems strange that with the technology that is available you can get a line call wrong,&quot; Ford said. 
 
&quot;You&#39;d think the best solution would be for the umpires to worry about what&#39;s going on down the other end and for technology to look after the line call.&quot; 
 
Meanwhile, England paceman James Anderson was reprimanded for &quot;conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game&quot; during the match, the ICC said in a statement. 
 
Anderson was guilty of showing disrespect to umpire S Ravi, who had asked the paceman not to verbally engage with Sri Lankan batsman Rangana Herath during the visitors&#39; first innings. 
 
Sri Lanka resume Monday&#39;s final day on 32 for no loss, needing 330 more runs to salvage some pride in the series in which they have been thoroughly outplayed.

England batsman, Alex Hales, was clean bowled at 58 but it was pronounced a no-ball by umpire Rod Tucker

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will lodge a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against an "unacceptable" reprieve for England batsman Alex Hales in the third and final test at Lord's, SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala has said. Nuwan Pradeep clean bowled Hales, then on 58, in England's second innings on Sunday, but it was adjudged a no-ball by umpire Rod Tucker, even though replays suggested a fraction of the paceman's shoe was behind the popping crease. Hales capitalised on the reprieve to score 94 before he was finally dismissed, but his reprieve prompted the visitors to briefly unfurl a Sri Lankan flag from the balcony in a perceived mark of protest. "The management on tour is very sad about that decision and it will be reported to the ICC," Sumathipala, who termed it "unacceptable", said. Coach Graham Ford, who complained to match referee Andy Pycroft after Sunday's play, played down the unfurling of the flag by the team, who have already surrendered the three-test series after crushing defeats in Leeds and Durham. The SLC chief, however, saw it differently. "The flag is a symbol," Sumathipala said. "It is a mark to say we are not happy with the decision. (It was unfurled) To show solidarity and fight back." Ford said Tucker had apologised for the mistake and the coach was of the view that front foot no-ball calls should be taken out of the on-field umpire's hand. "It just seems strange that with the technology that is available you can get a line call wrong," Ford said. "You'd think the best solution would be for the umpires to worry about what's going on down the other end and for technology to look after the line call." Meanwhile, England paceman James Anderson was reprimanded for "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game" during the match, the ICC said in a statement. Anderson was guilty of showing disrespect to umpire S Ravi, who had asked the paceman not to verbally engage with Sri Lankan batsman Rangana Herath during the visitors' first innings. Sri Lanka resume Monday's final day on 32 for no loss, needing 330 more runs to salvage some pride in the series in which they have been thoroughly outplayed.

Sri Lanka to complain to ICC against Hales' reprieve

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Sri Lanka raises concern with Beijing over Chinese doormats featuring its national flag

Sri Lanka to complain to ICC against Hales' reprieve