Barmy Army invades Sri Lanka

THE British Barmy Army has landed in Sri Lanka, formerly known as the colony of Ceylon, with drums beating, songs flowing, and spirits soaring.

- By LEONARD RATNAYAKE

Once linked to the island through history and politics, the English now return in a very different role: not as rulers, but as one of the world’s most famous cricket supporter groups, bringing col-our and cheer to the stands.

‘The Barmy Army’s invasion of Sri Lanka may be loud, colourful, and fuelled by copious amounts of beer, but its origins were far more modest, and wonderfully accidental. The story begins during the 1994-95 Ashes tour of Australia, when three friends, unknown to the public eye, David Peacock, Paul Burnham, and Gareth Evans, decided to follow England on what turned out to be a disastrous cricketing expedition.

Before long, the Barmy Army became blue-eyed favourites of both Australian media and fans. From those humble beginnings, the Barmy Army has grown enormously in stature and numbers. Today, they tour cricket-playing nations across the globe as a massive, organised group of English supporters, backed by a worldwide fan club. They are now Officially authorised to operate with a travel and tour licence, a far cry from the days of three mates with a trumpet.