By IANS,
Chennai : Over 175 Sri Lankan tourists were safely escorted by police to Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) airport Tuesday when Tamil activists staged demonstrations against their visit, said officials.
The Lankan tourists were on a tour to Velankanni Church, around 320 km from here.
Following the protests against their visit by Tamil activists, the tourists were taken in vans to Tirchy airport, said police officials.
According to police, the Lankan tourists were travelling in seven buses. A tyre of one bus got punctured on the outskirts of Trichy and MDMK activists came to know about their presence in the state.
Around 30 MDMK cadres gathered around the buses and shouted slogans and also pelted stones at the buses, police said.
According to police, no serious injuries were caused to the tourists.
Police dispersed the protesters and escorted the Lankan tourists to Trichy airport.
The Sri Lankan government Monday night issued a statement warning its nationals to desist from visiting Tamil Nadu till further notice.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Sunday ordered the sending back of two Sri Lankan football teams that were in the city to play friendly matches. The teams left for their country Monday.