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.