A legal view

International Chamber of Commerce (YAF) Sri Lankan Representative  and Attorney-at-Law Nishan Premathiratne, issued the following note on former Sport Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation, in respect of the World Cup final held in 2011.

Nishan Premathiratne

In terms of the anti-corruption code of ICC and Sri Lankan Code, any “participant” which could also include a selector or “any other person affiliated to a team who participates in international matches, having any knowledge in respect of any mal-practices or corruption in respect of the game (cricket), is duty bound to bring it to the notice of the anti-corruption unit of the ICC.

And such reporting procedure is to be effected confidentially so that that the Anti-corruption Unit of the ICC can conduct and investigate the allegation in an effective manner. The failure to report any misconduct in respect of match fixing or the failure to cooperate in respect of an investigation is also an offense as per both the Sri Lankan and ICC Anti-Corruption code.  

Though Sri Lanka has implemented the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act in in 2019, this purported incident would not fall within this law. Under the circumstances the best possible approach would have been to lodge a complaint to the ICC Anti-Corruption unit discretely. The Minister signs off the team as per the Lankan sports law, hence he also falls within the purview of the Anticorruption code.