Sri Lankan police require ‘Big Match’ cricket event programs after Kalutara clash

In Sri Lanka, schools organizing ‘Big Match’ cricket events must now discuss and prepare a program with the police, according to Sri Lanka Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa. The goal is to ensure that these tournaments, which aim to improve friendship between schools, are carried out in a manner that maintains discipline. The responsibility for organizing these events lies with school personnel.

SSP Thalduwa made these comments in response to a clash that occurred among school students and fans following a limited-overs cricket match between two schools in Kalutara on Sunday. The police reportedly controlled the incident, and no injuries were reported to them at the time. However, the mother of a student who was injured in the clash filed a complaint with the police, claiming that her child had been assaulted and was hospitalized.

The police immediately launched an investigation into the incident upon receiving the complaint. SSP Thalduwa also dismissed reports claiming that the Officer-In-Charge of the anti-corruption division of the Payagala police station had been attacked in the relevant incident, calling them completely false.

The clash occurred following the “13th Battle of the Mangosteens” between Tissa National College in Kalutara and Kalutara Maha Vidyalaya at the Surrey Grounds in Maggona. A student was hospitalized with critical injuries as a result of the conflict.