India's acting captain Virender Sehwag has dismissed accusations of unsportsmanlike play following a contentious wicket appeal.
Bowler Ravi Ashwin whipped the bails off non-striker Lahiru Thirimanne's wicket as the Sri Lankan batsmen left his crease before Ashwin's delivery.
An appeal was lodged, which Sehwag chose not to withdraw, and it was only after the intervention of team-mate Sachin Tendulkar that the issue was resolved.
"I think Ashwin warned him once in the previous over and next over he took the bail off and appealed," Sehwag told Fox Sports.
"'The umpires discussed it with me and I said we can give him one more warning."
Sri Lanka went on to win the match by 50 runs, with Thirimanne going on to make 62 in his side's 289-6 stand.
India could manage just 238 in response and the defeat leaves them bottom of the tri-series ladder.
The technique of running out a batsmen before a bowl is delivered is named in honour of Indian batsmen Vinoo 'Mankad' and, under ICC authority, is permitted within the rules of one-day and test cricket.
The threat of a Mankad is intended as a deterrent to batsmen seeking to gain an unfair advantage, although running-out an opponent in this way is still seen by many as being against the spirit of the game.
But Sehwag remained defiant in the face of those accusations, insisting that Ashwin was entitled to appeal for a wicket.
"The International Cricket Council made the rule - if someone is taking a start then the bowler has a full right to make him run out," he added.