Police beef up security for cricket Big Match season

• Several hundred officers to operate traffic congestions outside leading cricket stadiums

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Police Department will have a special security mechanism in place for the oncoming schools cricket Big Match season, which will commence from this weekend onwards and close to about 1, 000 police officers will be deployed including for the traffic operations, the Daily Mirror learns.   

The special cadre of policemen will be deployed for the security of thousands of spectators that are expected to throng several leading sports complexes and cricket grounds in Colombo, where over 15 big match encounters are to take place by 30 leading boys’ schools in the coming month.   

A senior official of the department told the Daily Mirror that these officers are deployed to preserve law and order, safety of the spectators including schoolchildren and past pupils with their families and even to counter illicit narcotic substances freely flowing during the season.   

A considerable number of policemen will be stationed in plain clothing in and around big match venues and stadiums to monitor any unlawful activities and to arrest the perpetrators.  

Meanwhile, several hundred traffic police officers will be deployed outside these leading cricket stadiums to maintain a smooth floor of vehicular traffic without disturbing regular travellers. The police warn strict action against drunk drivers during this period.   

The special strength will be absorbed from the 30 police stations in and around Colombo police stations.