The police brutally assaulted hundreds of cricket fans with valid tickets to view the T-20 International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on Wednesday at R. Premadasa (Kettarama) stadium.

Unprecedented security checks conducted without prior notice caused a protracted delay and thousands of spectators were denied entry even after the match commenced. Unable to control the seething crowd, the police first shut the gates on them and then set upon irate spectators who became restive. Among the victims of police brutality were women and children.

"We were trapped with our children and the police mercilessly beat us with batons," a female cricket fan told The Island.

When some disappointed spectators hurled stones at the police, policemen retaliated by throwing the missiles at the crowd regardless of the presence of children among them.

Sri Lanka Cricket announced as early as at 6:15 pm, 45 minutes prior to the start of play that the car parks at the venue were full and many spectators with tickets who were looking for parking space were turned away. Among them was respected cricket administrator Kushil Gunasekara, the former board secretary and Manager of cricket star Muttiah Muralitharan.

At least two camera crews of police media unit filmed the rush of spectators at the entrance to the stadium.

Ground security was handled by SLC’s newly recruited Security Officer, Major General (Rtd) Lawrence Fernando, who has been handed a massive security budget of Rs. 7 million for the series.

Security personnel conducted checks on spectators at their own pace oblivious to the long queues of cricket fans with tickets being formed outside the stadium as a result.