Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Monday, 7 October 2019 02:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
- Go-ahead given after Bill amended to incorporate changes given by AG
- Bill deals with match-fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation, and illegal betting in sports
Cabinet on Tuesday (1 October) gave approval for an amended Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Bill, which deals comprehensively with match-fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation, and illegal betting in sports, to be presented to Parliament.
Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment, and Sports Harin Fernando sought the approval of Cabinet to publish the draft Bill, prepared incorporating the Amendments proposed by the Attorney General in the Government Gazette and thereafter, present the same in Parliament.
Cabinet approval was granted after the Attorney General gave clearance for the draft Bill with several Amendments to be incorporated into the earlier draft Bill.
The Bill provides for the appointment of a special unit for the investigation of sports-related offences and imposes jail sentences from three to 10 years, and hefty fines of up to Rs. 100 million for some offences, for those found guilty of such illegal activities.
The law will apply to any persons or any person connected to a sport who, directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with others, gets involved in any arrangement on an irregular alteration of the course or the result of any sport or sporting event for money or any other reward or benefit.
The Bill covers practices such as betting, gambling, inside information relating to a sport, under-performance or withdrawal from a sport or sporting event for non-genuine reasons, etc.
