A Police water cannon vehicle was parked outside the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Maitland Place throughout the day while the 49th annual big match between Isipathana and Thurstan Colleges was played yesterday. The inter-school Big Match cricket season kicked off last Friday (24) with this encounter which is infamous for the bitter off-the-field rivalry between the two schools. With this in view Sri Lanka Police was prompted to take precautions to avoid possible incidents.
 |
| The Police water cannon will be common sight during this year’s Big Matches as it was seen by the SSC yesterday. (Pic by Amila Prabodha) |
The Big Match season stole the limelight a day before Friday’s game when a clash erupted between two groups of students from two leading boys schools in Colombo. According to reports several students were involved in the clash and the reason is yet to be known. Police suspected that a personal rivalry may have led to the clash. According to Police Media Spokesperson; SP Ajith Rohana statements had been recorded from 64 students who were involved in the incident.
SP Ajith Rohana speaking further to the Sunday Times said that the water cannon outside the SSC premises was as a safety measure, to control any potential clashes which may erupt at the game..
“We have also deployed a large number of police officers in uniform as well as in civils around the ground in order to control possible student misbehaviour. The water cannon was brought in to control possible clashes that may erupt. We will continue this practice as a provisional programme during the Big Match season in the coming weeks,” he said.
He said that Police will act strictly on students who engage in unruly acts during the Big Matches.
“Student who violate road rules, disobey roadblocks, act violently and misbehave under the influence of alcohol at public places will be taken into custody and will be severely warned. In addition students who molest the farer sex, gatecrash into girls’ schools and travel in open vehicles dangerously will also be arrested and the vehicles will betaken into custody. The individuals will be kept in custody and will be severely warned while vehicles that are involved will be produced in court,” SP Rohana added.
According to the organizers of the Isipathana-Thurstan Big Match, except for a few minor incidents, the encounter had proceeded in a calm manner. The organizers of yesterday’s encounter also revealed that they requested the services of Riot Police inside the venue, which helped to prevent clashes. |
E-mail
