Finally the probe into allegations of match fixing in the 2011 World Cup final involving Sri Lanka and India has been halted by Sri Lankan Sports Ministry.
The report submitted by Sports Ministry’s Special Investigation Unit on Prevention of Offences relating to Sports Act of 2019 id now under the carpet.,
Reason, even after shamefully grilling stalwarts of Sri Lankan cricket Aravinda de Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga for many hours, police could not get any clue and due to insufficient evidence probe has been shut.
Sri Lanka Cricket is in the process of introducing a tougher code of conduct for players which until now did not cover their off-field behaviour after another high speed car crash and the death of a 64 year old man brought into question indiscipline among cricketers to whom life on the fast lane has put them on par with notoriety.
The latest case involving batsman Kusal Mendis has turned him from a soft spoken lad to a villain on the highway as Social media was awash with criticism over his conduct amid allegations that he got away in a police cover-up.
In the aftermath of Mahindananda aluthgamage’s match-fixing allegations which opened a can of worms, legal expert’s emphasised that sports persons should maintain records of their assets and accounts to produce to investigators in the event of any inquiry.
This was a requirement in the recently enacted law on Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) set up under the new Act is empowered to examine assets and accounts of any person, their spouse and children, said Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena at a seminar to educate the sports fraternity on the new law.
It imposes stringent punishment for anyone found guilty of sports-related corruption including match-fixing.
(LIN)