Sri Lanka announces crackdown on English streakers

England's loyal supporters have attracted criticism for showing crass insensitivity to local customs in Sri Lanka during the First Test Match in Galle, and ground authorities for the Second Test Match in Kandy are preparing to stamp down on indecent dressing and streaking.

Authorities are concerned that displays of nudity could upset local residents in the sacred city of Kandy.

The police in Kandy are therefore preparing to combat the threat. A match organising committee spokesman confirmed yesterday that the police are not taking any chances given the reputation of some English fans who, when inebriated, are known to enjoy streaking across the ground naked.

Any spectators not dressed decently will be refused entry to the stadium and anyone who has the stupidity to streak across the ground will quickly be wrapped in blankets and bundled out of the ground.

In Galle two unnamed supporters tried to streak, but met their match in the Special Task Force, an elite unit in the armed forces. The Task Force foiled two attempts to scale the hoardings.

Jayanda Warnaweera, the Galle International Stadium Manager, was so furious that he vowed to prevent the supporters from watching any cricket for the rest of the series. The following day he banned any spectators from using the grass bank from where the streak had begun and increased security. The grass bank had previously been used by hundreds of spectators for sunbathing.