Sport Today

by **ks..** » Wed, 18 Nov 1992 13:15:36

New Zealand Board of Cricket has decided unanimously that the tour of Sri Lanka
should proceed as scheduled. Its President McDermott is flying to Colombo to
talk to the players. He will also hold talks with the British and Australian
High Commissioners and others to assess the security situation. After
appraising the players of the situation, a decision will be made within forty
eight hours - if the tour proceeds, any player who wants to go home will be
released. Most of the players seem to be shook up as they did witness the bomb
blast and the death of five persons.

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by **Yapa,** » Wed, 18 Nov 1992 19:27:08

Quote:

> New Zealand Board of Cricket has decided unanimously that the tour of Sri Lanka
> should proceed as scheduled. Its President McDermott is flying to Colombo to
> talk to the players. He will also hold talks with the British and Australian
> High Commissioners and others to assess the security situation. After
> appraising the players of the situation, a decision will be made within forty
> eight hours - if the tour proceeds, any player who wants to go home will be
> released. Most of the players seem to be shook up as they did witness the bomb
> blast and the death of five persons.

I think that NZ did the right thing by continuing the tour. And I hope
they will not reverse the decision.

SL has been a security risk for 10 years now. Overall the security now
is better than in the late 80's. When NZ agreed to tour SL they were aware
of the slight security risk. If you look objectively the risks have
not worsened or improved because of the most recent attack.
Australia toured SL this year. They were aware of the problems.

Here are some facts:
The bomb attack in Colombo is the third major one in 3 years.

Last year: a Bomb exposion killed a top minister and with 30 others.
Last year: another Bomb occured in the military HQ and killed more than
60 people.
both of those happened in central Colombo areas and was quite unexpected.

There will be a top trade show iin Colombo starting in 2 days time.
2500 foreign businessman are expected.

Although I can understand the scare the NZ cricketers got ( the incident
apparently happened right in front of Taj Samudra where they were staying-
and the bomb has rocked the hotel while the criketers were having breakfast.
), the risk has not increased because of this explosion.
the risk was there when they arrived and I don't think it has increased.

Yapa

by **I. Rajeev Gajendr** » Thu, 19 Nov 1992 04:59:27

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17: Chronicle Wire Services.

SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS SRI LANKA NAVY CHIEF
-----------------------------------------
A suicide assassin raced his motorcycle yesterday alongside
a car carrying Sri Lankan naval chief Vice Admiral Clancy Fernando,
then set off a bomb that ripped the auto with pellets and killed
Fernando and three aides.
The blast tore the assailant to bits. The admiral's car
flipped over, and an escort jeep carrying eight sailors was slightly
damaged.
Police blamed the assassination on Tamil rebels, who are
fighting for an independent homeland in the north and east of the
nation.
Sri Lanka's navy has played an increasingly important role
in trying to contain the nearly decade-old rebellion, which has cost
17,500 lives.

by **mcb..** » Thu, 19 Nov 1992 07:42:21

Quote:

>> New Zealand Board of Cricket has decided unanimously that the tour of Sri Lanka
>> should proceed as scheduled. Its President McDermott is flying to Colombo to
>> talk to the players. He will also hold talks with the British and Australian
>> High Commissioners and others to assess the security situation. After
>> appraising the players of the situation, a decision will be made within forty
>> eight hours - if the tour proceeds, any player who wants to go home will be
>> released. Most of the players seem to be shook up as they did witness the bomb
>> blast and the death of five persons.

> I think that NZ did the right thing by continuing the tour. And I hope
> they will not reverse the decision.

> SL has been a security risk for 10 years now. Overall the security now
> is better than in the late 80's. When NZ agreed to tour SL they were aware
> of the slight security risk. If you look objectively the risks have
> not worsened or improved because of the most recent attack.
> Australia toured SL this year. They were aware of the problems.

> Here are some facts:
> The bomb attack in Colombo is the third major one in 3 years.

> Last year: a Bomb exposion killed a top minister and with 30 others.
> Last year: another Bomb occured in the military HQ and killed more than
> 60 people.
> both of those happened in central Colombo areas and was quite unexpected.

> There will be a top trade show iin Colombo starting in 2 days time.
> 2500 foreign businessman are expected.

> Although I can understand the scare the NZ cricketers got ( the incident
> apparently happened right in front of Taj Samudra where they were staying-
> and the bomb has rocked the hotel while the criketers were having breakfast.
> ), the risk has not increased because of this explosion.
> the risk was there when they arrived and I don't think it has increased.

> Yapa

It doesn't sound much worse (if at all!) than the security risk posed by the
IRA in England. Come to think of it, I recall three major IRA bombs in less
than a year. If the NZ players feel that they are targets then they should
return.

Sport Today

NZ in SL story -continued

NZ in SL story -continued

NZ in SL story -continued

NZ in SL story -continued

NZ in SL story -continued