The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Headquarters have received several complaints regarding the singing of the National Anthem in a distorted manner by singer Umara Sinhawansa at the 2023 Lanka Premier League (LPL) cricket tournament opening ceremony on Sunday evening. The Police Headquarters revealed that the legal situation regarding the singing of the National Anthem in a distorted manner is currently being studied by the Police Legal Division.
The Police Legal Department will also seek assistance from the Attorney General’s Department, Police sources said. A senior Police officer said that after this legal study, an investigation will be conducted regarding the complaints about singing the National Anthem in a distorted manner at a public ceremony and whether it amounts to an offence.
The female singer was mispronouncing a key lyric when performing the National Anthem at the 2023 LPL opening ceremony. A video of the incident is currently circulating on social media and she is heard repeatedly mispronouncing certain key phrases of the National Anthem. She has been accused of mispronouncing the National Anthem in this tournament in which local and foreign cricket stars are playing.