England cricket fan Rob Lewis was ordered off the ramparts of Galle Fort. ©AFP Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI

Galle (Sri Lanka) (AFP) – An England cricket fan who waited 10 months in Sri Lanka to watch his team play was ushered away by police before a ball had been bowled in the first Test on Thursday.

Rob Lewis, who flew out last March before the original tour was aborted over the coronavirus, and decided to stay until England returned, said he was “very frustrated” by the turn of events.

Lewis was ordered off the historic ramparts of Galle Fort, a vantage point which overlooks the city’s cricket ground, just after the national anthems. No spectators are allowed inside the stadium.

“I am very frustrated. I waited 10 months to watch this match and the police have kicked me out,” Lewis told AFP.

“At least I managed to sing ‘Jerusalem’,” he added.

During his stay in Sri Lanka, Lewis has worked remotely as a web designer and done stints as a nightclub DJ.

He visited Galle Fort on Saturday to map out his fallback as it became clear that no spectators will be allowed at the ground.

Lewis said he was warned in advance that he would only get restricted access to the ramparts. Three banners that he put up were also removed.

“I am going to see the police (chief),” he said. “All I want to do is watch the match.”

“They gave me half-an-hour to put up three banners and go. That’s all,” Lewis added. 

“There will be another nine days of play and I hope I will be able to get permission to go up there again.”

Sri Lankan police banned all visitors from the 16th-century ramparts, a favourite venue for locals who want to avoid paying for tickets, officially for security reasons.

But a few journalists were allowed to cover the match from the fort.

Fans and media were barred from the stadium because of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 50,000 people and killed nearly 250 in the South Asian nation.

Sri Lankan journalist Rex Clementine scaled the ramparts to keep up his record of covering every Test in Sri Lanka since 2000. 

“I want to maintain my record even if they don’t allow reporters to the grounds,” he said.

Soldiers and security personnel in hazmat suits were posted around the stadium and checked the few people allowed in.

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.