Liquor banned at Big Matches
Wijayani Edirisinghe and Suraj Bandara
No persons who attend big matches will in future be allowed to enter
the playgrounds under the influence of liquor or having liquor in their
possession. The Police requested cricket fans attending big matches to
strictly adhere to this Police order.
This follows the many incidents witnessed during school big matches
due to the presence of drunk spectators.
Police said the spectators responsible for creating problems were
under the influence of liquor. Police Headquarters said Police officers
in civvies will be deployed inside and outside each ground where big
matches are being played.
“Law breakers will be severely punished irrespective of their
position of influence. The decision was taken following the recent clash
at a school big match where old boys and outsiders persuaded the school
boys to get drunk resulting in a clash,” Police sources said.
“A good many of the spectators at this big match were under the
influence of liquor, sources said.
“Many old boys in positions of power and influence ignore Police
orders during big matches. They purposely bring liquor and other
intoxicants in to the grounds,” Police sources said.
“The main reason for the clash at the Ananda- Nalanda big match was
unruly behaviour under the influence of liquor,” DIG Colombo Division
Anura Senannayake said, ‘Discussions have also been held with the
principles of major schools in an effort to prevent clashes at big
matches,” Senannayake said. |
