Sri Lanka’s efforts in curbing sports related corruption, highlighted at MARS
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Sumathi Dharmawardana making his presentation in Lyon, Paris
Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, PC speaking at the Network of Magistrates/Prosecutors Responsible for Sports (MARS) set up by the Council of Europe, third annual meeting held at the INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon in France, highlighted Sri Lanka’s effort in combatting sports related corruption. Dharmawardena who played a key role in enacting the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act No 24 of 2019, the first such law in South Asia said the law has made a significant stride in combatting corruption in sports, specially match fixing in cricket.
“The existing law allows us to investigate and file charges even if there’s corruption even in a sporting event or a tournament not governed by the registered local body or its international body,’ said Dharmawardena, adding that they are currently pursuing legal action against a team owner of an unsanctioned Legends Cricket Tournament played in Kandy in March.
The network—MARS which met on June 18, 19 and 20 in Lyon, France, discussed various aspects of corruption in sports and how it can be tackled. This network of magistrates and prosecutors has now become the international reference body promoting effective investigation and criminal proceedings relating to sports integrity.
“They discussed the Sri Lankan legal regime which provides laws to investigate and file charges against those involved in sports related corruption. The European Union very seriously looking to minimise corruption in sport and with the support of INTERPOL, they conducted the third meeting of MARS,” he said.
In February this year INTERPOL conducted a two-day training session in Colombo for local prosecutors and law enforcement officers on how to carry out their investigations effectively. Over the past two decades, illegal online betting has expanded as a result of the massive growth in Internet use, the globalisation of sports viewing and the consequent popularity of betting on sports in countries with limited legal gambling industries.
The Internet has allowed the operators of online gambling platforms to reach larger audiences in locations where gambling is considered illegal. The operators often exploit existing political or legal situations to strategically host online gambling platforms in these locations where they cannot be easily spotted by local authorities.
Absence of a domestic law to prevent and to prosecute the persons outside the sporting arena highlighted the dire need to have a special legislation and furthermore, it was a requirement as per the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), also known as the ‘Merida Convention’ to establish domestic laws to prevent offences relating to sports. Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s Legislature (Parliament) enacted a new law to prevent corruption in sports and to deter potential match fixers.