Exclusion order in the skies over all Sri Lanka World Cup matches (21 May 1999)
The Civil Aviation Authority in the UK on the advice of the Police have set up an exclusion order in the skies over all Sri Lanka World Cup matches after the LTTE conducted a daring PR stunt during the Sri Lanka vs South Africa match in Northampton
21-May-1999
21 May 1999
Exclusion order in the skies over all Sri Lanka World Cup matches
Ivan Corea
The Civil Aviation Authority in the UK on the advice of the Police
have set up an exclusion order in the skies over all Sri Lanka World
Cup matches after the LTTE conducted a daring PR stunt during the Sri
Lanka vs South Africa match in Northampton. A light aircraft, piloted
by an Englishman from Blackpool with three Tamil passengers flew over
Northampton grounds with banners stating that Tamils supported South
Africa it was not cricket to kill Tamils. All were arrested on
landing and the matter has been taken up by Scotland Yard.
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka representatives who
were at the World Cup match made a complaint to the Northampton
Police who then contacted the Civil Aviation Authority. The Police
were unable to send a helicopter in a bid to force down the light
aircraft as it posed dangers since the aircraft was flying over a
built up area. The Chief Constable of Northampton visited the grounds
and met with BCCSL officials.
Stringent measures have now been taken to make sure that such a PR
stunt is not repeated again. The Sri Lanka team meanwhile are trying
to put their two defeats behind them. There is still a chance for
Arjuna Ranatunga and the cricketers, albeit a slim chance, to reach
the Super Six but they MUST win their remaining matches. If the
batting fails once again, Sri Lanka can kiss goodbye any hope of
reaching the next stage. The team now needs to take time to reflect,
keep their spirits up and let their bats do the talking in the next
match.
Source :: The Daily News (https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/)