Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara has accused Ryanair staff in Dublin of threatening and discriminating against his family. The Rajasthan Royals head coach shared his experience on X on Wednesday evening, prompting widespread reactions on social media. Sangakkara described the alleged incident as shocking and unacceptable, calling it his first unpleasant experience in Dublin, the capital of Ireland.
His post also raised questions about passenger treatment and the conduct of airline personnel at airport boarding gates. “Has anyone experienced discriminatory gate personnel @Ryanair in Dublin? I, with my family, just did and it was shocking,” Kumar Sangakkara wrote on X.
Has anyone experienced discriminatory gate personnel @Ryanair in Dublin ? I with my family just did and it was shocking. The tone of address and the mishandling of procedure and threatening behavior. Unacceptable for any passenger. First bad experience in Dublin
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) October 28, 2026
Ryanair, an Irish ultra-low-cost airline headquartered in Swords, County Dublin, has yet to publicly respond to the allegations, as of the time of writing.
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The former Sri Lankan skipper’s post also prompted fellow Sri Lankan Sanjiva Weerawarana to share his experiences of alleged discrimination while travelling and living overseas. Weerawarana claimed that he had faced discrimination in Western countries over several decades.
“Kumar, I have experienced discrimination in every part of the West. I lived there for 16 years, travelled back and forth for another 25 and now I’m done,” he replied.
@sanjiva @Ryanair It is quite jarring when you experience it @sanjiva
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) October 28, 2026
The exchange brought further attention to the concerns raised by Sangakkara and sparked conversations online about discrimination, racism and how international travellers are treated.
Sangakkara, widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers, is currently associated with the Rajasthan Royals as their head coach. His allegations have attracted attention beyond the cricketing community because of the broader questions surrounding customer service and equal treatment.
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Meanwhile, Ryanair has also faced criticism over its public communication in recent weeks. Last month, chief executive Michael O’Leary apologised for describing rival airlines as “high-fare rapists”, saying he was “truly sorry” for the remark.
The airline is also known for its provocative social media strategy, frequently posting humorous content and taking jabs at other brands and public figures on X. However, the allegations made by Sangakkara have placed its customer-facing conduct under renewed scrutiny.
