Tigers’ defeat made ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 matches possible at SL venues

(Chief of Defence Staff)

Fearing LTTE attacks, Australia and the West Indies declined to play their opening games in Colombo in 1996 at the Wills World Cup.

(by Shamindra Ferdinando)

Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonetileke says Sri Lanka’s war victory over the LTTE has made it possible to hold the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 matches in the country. Had the LTTE leadership escaped the army cordon and sought refuge in the northern jungles, the group could have posed a threat in spite of losing its conventional military capability, the SLAF Commander told The Island.

The ICC excluded Pakistani venues due to security concerns in spite of the government assuring safety and security to both players and spectators. Australia and West Indies declined to play their opening games at the 1996 Wills World Cup in Sri Lanka over security fears. New Zealand abandoned their tour of Sri Lanka following the assassination of the then Navy Chief Vice Admiral Clancy Fernando on Nov. 16, 1992.

He said that since the war ended in May 19, 2009, there hadn’t been a single terrorist related incident. In spite of some ‘experts’ speculating the possibility of the LTTE reverting to a hit and run campaign, the group had never recovered from the annihilation of its entire leadership on the Vanni east front, he said.

Responding to a query, the outgoing Air Chief said that the ICC’s endorsement of Sri Lankan venues was a clear sign of their confidence that the country is safe. The eradication of terrorism had created a peaceful environment conducive to mega international events, the SLAF Chief said, paying a glowing tribute to valiant officers and men, who waged war against a ruthless enemy.

Under his leadership, the SLAF played a pivotal role in the combined security forces campaign, while carrying out successful air offensives against theLTTE.

The six-week tournament in the subcontinent began in Dhaka on Saturday with a meeting between joint hosts Bangladesh and India. The Dhaka match will be followed by 48 matches culminating in the final in Mumbai on April 2.

At the last SAARC summit in Colombo at the height of Eelam war IV, New Delhi placed warships off Colombo to meet any eventuality.

The SLAF Chief said that since the conclusion of the war, the international community had gradually lifted a range of security restrictions imposed on Sri Lanka. According to him, almost all countries had done away with adverse travel advisories issued over the years, targeting the tourism industry. The ICC Cricket World Cup could further strengthen Sri Lanka’s efforts to boost tourism and attract direct foreign investment, he said.

International news agencies quoted ICC chief Haroon Lorgat, the man ultimately responsible for the safe delivery of the World Cup, as describing security as a "non issue." He said the ICC had all the necessary arrangements with governments and police forces in place.

"We have gained enormous amounts of experience over the last few years. In fact, safety and security does not seem to be an issue for anyone," Lorgat was quoted by Reuters.

"We are mature in our processes, we’re very robust as a consequence of the experience we’ve gained. We’ve got systems in place, we’ve got personnel in place."

Less than two years ago, the touring Sri Lankans were ambushed by gunmen in Pakistan and six policemen were killed and seven players and officials were injured in the shootout. A driver in one of the team buses was also killed.

Mumbai does not host its first match until March 13 and security in the city has been low key with the vast majority of non-Indian cricket fans yet to make their way to the city.

The SLAF Chief recalled how ‘Air Tigers’ dropped some crude bombs in Colombo in late April 2007, when Sri Lanka were meeting Australia in the final of the 2007 tournament played in the West Indies. "It was all part of their strategy to grab international media coverage," he said.