Sri Lanka `safe'

Two Barbadian cricket personalities who have recently visited Sri Lanka have no worries over safety in the politically volatile country which is preparing for parliamentary elections.

They are Cammie Smith, an experienced and respected International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, and Ryle Stuart, a seasoned cameraman for international television networks.

Their comments came against the background of recent concerns by West Indian officials and players ahead of their tour of Sri Lanka starting at the weekend. Concerns were also raised in light of the United States' military strikes on Afghanistan following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

I have no fears whatsoever, Smith told NATIONSPORT. I have been to Sri Lanka six times and I would have no difficulty in going back again.

He said a lot of people were not aware that Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were not within close proximity, and he reckoned the election, set for December 5, was moreso of an internal matter.

Sri Lanka is not near Afghanistan to start with. People seem to think it is very close. It isn't, he said. With the elections, it is the Tamils against the people in the south, and the Tamils are not targeting tourists and sportspeople. It is an internal matter with the government.

Both Smith and Stuart were in Sri Lanka in July when an airbase there was bombed, but according to them, life went on as usual.

Cricket went on without anyone even thinking about security matters, Stuart said. There was a strong police presence at cricket and the teams were escorted by police.

It was Stuart's first trip to Sri Lanka and he may return to work during the forthcoming tour. Arrangements, however, are yet to be finalised for television coverage, mainly because of a problem between the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) and WSG Nimbus Pte. Limited.

Stuart worked for WSG on his recent trip to Sri Lanka, but is also a regular for Trans World International, which may be involved in the coverage of the forthcoming tour.

I am not worried about security concerns, Stuart said. When I was there, I could walk the streets freely. I went hiking, I went to the beach and I went to the discos.

There were one or two demonstrations, but nothing that the police could not handle.

Smith, a former Barbados Cricket Association president and West Indies batsman who played five Tests in the 1960s, was also in Sri Lanka in 1994 when a Test match had to be cancelled because of elections. But, he added, there was nothing to worry about.

At a recent ICC meeting in Malaysia, West Indies Cricket Board president Wes Hall was given assurances from the BCCSL over the safety of the team, which will also have bodyguards.