Sri Lanka mulls strict anti-fixing law

Saturday, 8 June 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

PTI, New Delhi: The Sri Lankan Government is mulling to bring a tough anti-corruption law against unfair practices in sports in the wake of spot-fixing scandals in the IPL and Bangladesh Premier League.

“We are bringing a law against fixing and are working on its draft. It will have strict provisions like life ban if anyone found guilty of fixing. I will send the draft to the cabinet and after its approval, it will be passed by the Parliament. The whole process will take around six months,” Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told PTI from Colombo.

Aluthgamage vowed to put in place a proper mechanism to combat ill practices in the Sri Lankan Premier League.

“Naturally, we will be much more alert this time in the wake of what has happened in the IPL and BPL. The Board (SLC) will work with ICC’s anti-corruption unit officials during the league,” he said. Aluthgamage also ridiculed reports which said the SLPL franchise owners were pulling out over losses incurred in the first edition.

“The SLPL will go ahead as scheduled and there’s no doubt about that. We have sought the advice of the Attorney General regarding the extension of the franchise owner period to 15 years instead of the current seven,” he informed. The second edition of the SLPL will be held from 10 August to 7 September this year.

Ajit Jayasekara, the tournament director of the league, said the organisers will be more “alert” this time keeping in view the recent fixing controversies.

“Obviously, we have to be more alert. We had ICC’s anti corruption unit officials last year also and they gave a good report about our league. This year too they will work with our own ACU,” he said. “There will be more dos and don’ts for players which will be issued by ACU officials. They will talk to players, franchises and management separately. We will have cheer girls but there will be no after match parties,” he added.

Jayasekara also termed the allegations “baseless” when asked about reports of some of the Indian bookies owning the SLPL franchises.