Sachithra Senanayake case remains inconclusive
Sachithra Senanayake was granted bail
The Ministry of Sports’ Special Investigation Unit (SIU) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court this week that the investigation into alleged match-fixing accusations against former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake remains inconclusive due to the absence of the voice test report.
Senanayake, currently on bail, had been in remand custody for purportedly trying to lure two Colombo Kings franchise players into corrupt activities during the inaugural Lanka Premier League in 2020.
Despite providing a voice sample a year ago, the Government Analyst department has yet to furnish the report, leading President Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, representing Senanayake, to decry the delay as unjust.
Consequently, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has directed an official reminder to the Government Analyst to expedite the report production. The case is scheduled for June 26. As a result, Senanayake’s foreign travel restriction will persist until the investigations conclude, with the hearing set for May 17 next year.
Senanayake, a member of the 2014 T20 World Cup-winning squad, was charged in 2020 after former Sri Lankan international Dhammika Prasad and domestic cricketer Tharindu Ratnayake reported alleged attempts to influence them to underperform to the local anti-corruption officer.
Senanayake faces charges under the 2019 Prevention of Offences related to Sports Act, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs.100mn, or both. An investigation launched in 2020, at the behest of ICC Anti-Corruption head Alex Marshall, uncovered that the suspected cricketer had allegedly used WhatsApp to contact both players in an attempt to sway them.