New revelations in Senanayake’s alleged match-fixing involvement
Sachithra Senanayake, in the news for the wrong reason - Pic by Akila Jayawardene
Former Sri Lanka cricketer Sachithra Senanayake, now in remand custody over his alleged attempt to entice two players of the Colombo Kings franchise in the Lanka Premier League to indulge in corrupt practices during the inaugural edition, has acted as the local agent of a batting syndicate, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.
Arrested after he surrendered through lawyers to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Ministry of Sports, a unit set up following the enactment of the Prevention of offences related to Sports Act in 2019, Senanayake was escorted to the remand prison where he will be in till September 15.
Senanayake, a member of the 2014 T20 World Cup winning team, was charged in 2020 after two cricketers–former Sri Lanka international Dhammika Prasad and a domestic cricketer Tharindu Ratnayake–complained to the local anti-corruption officer of alleged approaches to underperform.
An investigation was launched in 2020 on the insistence of the ICC Anti-Corruption head Alex Marshall. It revealed that the suspected cricketer had allegedly contacted both players via WhatsApp to influence them.
Appearing for the SIU on behalf of the Attorney General, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said in Court that Senanayake had pressured the players to delete the conversations after both players refused to comply with the request to engage in corrupt practices.
Prasad had been first approached by a person identified as ‘Stabby’ who is a foreigner, the Court heard. He had been offered a place in the Colombo Kings side and even promised a slot in the playing XI right through the tournament. He had then allegedly messaged Prasad on WhatsApp to connect with team skipper Angelo Mathews. However, Stabby later claimed that the said message was sent accidentally.
Following this, the Manager of AS Agencies asked Prasad to delete the conversation Prasad had with Stabby. Prasad had reported the matter to Rangana Herath, the team’s Assistant Coach, and then to the local anti-corruption officer.
Peiris told Court that Senanayake had then intervened and told Prasad he would take home an additional payment of US$ 50,000 to US$ 60,000 if he played as he was instructed. It was revealed that Senanayake had called Prasad at least 12 times to persuade him to comply.
According to the details presented to Court, Dhammika Prasad recorded Senanayake’s 45-minute call with the recorder given to him by the ICC and sent it to the ICC. This recording was conveyed to the Government Analyst on Friday. Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna de Alwis ordered to present the suspects to the Government Analyst to match his voice with the recordings.
The Deputy Solicitor General also told the court that a person named ‘Shahidi’ had called Tharindu Ratnayake. Ratnayake, however, blocked the phone number of that person. This was when Senanayake allegedly intervened. He had called Ratnayake and had asked why he had blocked the number. He was also told not to report the matter to the anti-corruption unit. It was revealed in the investigation that these two foreigners, Stabby and Shahidi, were bookies.
“When we try to help, you try to be too smart before we tell you what to do,” a B-report filed by police in Court quotes Senanayake as telling Ratnayake.
“Now there’s no point in this but check whether Shahidi’s number is given to the anti-corruption unit.”
Investigations have revealed there are powerful people behind this network, the B-report states.
“We should investigate that,” Peiris told court.
“This suspect has absconded the SIU sleuths and he was not cooperating with the investigation. When the investigators asked for his phone, he had said that it fell to the water while on a boat.”
Accordingly, the Deputy Solicitor General requested the court to remand him.
Under the 2019 Corruption Act, if the suspect is found guilty of the charges, the Court has the ability to impose a fine not exceeding Rs.100mn and a rigorous prison sentence not exceeding 10 years.
Appearing for the suspect, Attorney-at-Law Chaminda Athukorala said that tackling corruption should start with Sri Lanka Cricket as it has registered on many betting websites.
“My client is a retired national cricketer. The allegations made by the prosecutors that my client is staying away and not assisting the investigations are completely false,” he told the court.
“My client appeared before the investigators every time he was summoned. He made a similar appearance today. He had travelled abroad at least six times during this period and had returned home and if he was an individual avoiding the police, he would not have returned to the country. He is a father of two,” he said, pleading that the suspect be released on bail. .
The Colombo Magistrate on August 14, had issued an order banning
Sri Lankan cricketer Sachitra Senanayake from travelling abroad for a period of three months. Officer-In-Charge of the Sports Offences Investigation Unit Supun Vidanage and its Director Jayanath Wanasinghe also appeared in Court.