Sports Minister spares only SIU Director, transferring the rest
On the request of the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has transferred all but the Director of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) set up under the Prevention of Offences related Sports Act, rendering the office toothless.
The unit was set up in 2019 after the Prevention of Offences related Sports Act was passed in Parliament to deal with increasing cases of corruption in sports in Sri Lanka. Since then, it has completed 74 investigations and 10 cases have been referred to the Attorney General’s Department for legal action.
The sudden en-masse transfer has bewildered many as they say they should take place without affecting the continuity of the unit’s work. According to the Sports Ministry, the transfers are effective from November 22, 2022, and they are in the process of getting replacements. The term of office of any member of the unit is three years but they are eligible for reappointment.
“The question is how the unit can function when they transfer the team en-masse,” said lawyer Panduka Keerthinanda, the architect of the Act.
“This is a specialised area and we have trained them with the help of international sports bodies like the International Cricket Council (ICC). So when you change the entire team, that will impact the unit’s continuity.”
“When the entire team is transferred how can the institution work? IGP can transfer these men on the disciplinary grounds but he should do so after a proper inquiry not because he gets a request from the minister in charge. They should have transferred a few and allowed a smooth transition rather than an almost complete overhaul,” he maintained.
The Sports Ministry, however, ruled out any foul play saying these were routine transfers following the completion of the team’s terms and that new members are being appointed to fill the vacancies.
“We will appoint new members by next week,” said Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, Secretary to the Ministry of Sports. SSP Jagath Fonseka who heads the Unit is remains in his position at least for the time.