Match-Fixing continues at local level - Mahindananda

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sports Minister & Present Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that he was not satisfied with the investigations conducted into the allegations on fixing the 2011 cricket World Cup finals.

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Sports Ministry on the 3rd of July concluded the probe on the match-fixing allegations relating to the 2011 Cricket World Cup final between Sri Lanka and India, as it found no evidence, which proves the Cricket World Cup final was fixed.

On the 18th of June 2020, Mahindananda Aluthgamage in an explosive revelation with News 1st’s Suranga Senanayake said that the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final between India & Sri Lanka was fixed.

The SIU of the Sports Ministry had thereafter launched an investigation into the Minister's allegations.

SJB MP Mujibur Rahman today raised a question in Parliament, questioning why no action was taken against Minister Aluthgamage for making false allegations.

Responding to MP Mujibur Rahman, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said that if action was taken against complainants on these issues, no one would come forward in the future to give any information or complaint.

Responding to the allegation, Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage blamed the Police for not conducting a proper inquiry over his allegations.

"Statements were not recorded from the President and Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, serving at the time of 2011 Cricket World Cup," said the Minister.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that he never said the players were involved and in order to divert the investigations authorities started questioning players, instead of the officials involved.

Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman called on the government to instruct the CID to conduct further investigations if the Minister is not satisfied with the inquiry,

In an explosive revelation to the Parliament, Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said Match-Fixing continues at the local level in the country.

He warned that if Match-Fixing is not stopped, Sri Lanka will never be able to win a Cricket World Cup in the future.