Alleged match-fixers further remanded
Tamim Rahman, the co-owner of the Dambulla Thunders, a team in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), was further remanded until June 7, 2024, by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage on Friday. The magistrate also requested investigators to present the recording of Rahman’s controversial telephone conversation, where he is alleged to have discussed match-fixing, to the courts.
Rahman, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested at Katunayake Airport on May 22 while leaving the country after attending the player auction the previous day. He had been remanded until May 31 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. He was apprehended by officials of the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports at the Sports Ministry over allegations of match-fixing.
During the player auction of the LPL 2024, held in Colombo, the Dambulla Thunders made 18 signings. The event was also attended by the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption team. The LPL is scheduled to be played from July 1 to 21, starting in Kandy, then Dambulla, before moving to Colombo.
Meanwhile, Matale Magistrate denied the request of Yogi Patel, owner of the Kandy Samp Army team, to facilitate his travel to see his ailing wife. Patel, an Indian national, is currently facing match-fixing charges after being implicated by Sri Lanka’s current Chairman of Selectors, Upul Tharanga, at the Legends League cricket tournament played in Kandy in March. Tharanga played for the Kandy Samp Army.
Magistrate Ravindra Premaratne, in refusing Patel’s complaint, stated that there was not enough information to grant his request. Representing Patel, Attorney-at-Law Madhawa Jayawardena and Shanaka Wijesinghe PC argued that Patel’s wife is undergoing a major operation on June 6 and requested permission for him to travel to be with her during this difficult time. They also presented medical certificates to support their request. State Counsel Gevindu Seneviratne and Senior State Counsel Udara Karunaratne appeared for the Special Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Sports.