India lost their Coca-Cola Cup tri series match to hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday because anti-government activists invaded the pitch, a court heard on Monday.

The match was held up briefly as two men ran to the middle of the pitch and held up banners denouncing the government, as India began its innings under lights.

The men have been charged with criminal trespass, obstruction of a cricket match, and displaying anti-government banners, police said.

At a hearing at a magistrate's court in Colombo, police inspector SAS Suraweera said India lost by six runs because they were "frightened" after the demonstration disrupted play for about three minutes.

"We have charged the two men on three counts and we also told the magistrate that India should have won the match if not for the disturbance caused by them," Suraweera said. "There was no formal complaint from the Indian team, but we know they lost because of the disturbance."

However, lawyers for the men said their demonstration was only aimed at the recent "dictatorial" action of the president in shutting down parliament and had nothing to do with cricket.

Colombo magistrate Priyantha Fernando freed the two men on bail of 20,000 Sri Lankan rupees (222 dollars) each and adjourned the case until August 15.

© PTI