Cricket: ICC bans Jayananda Warnaweera for three years

Jayananda Warnaweera, the former chief curator of the Galle International Stadium, was handed a three-year suspension by the International Cricket Council after he failed to cooperate with its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in an investigation that is ongoing.

On the same charges, Warnaweera was already serving a ban of two years from all cricket activities imposed by Sri Lanka Cricket in November 2015.  

The former Sri Lanka off-spinner turned curator had failed to attend scheduled interviews with the ACU on two separate occasions and also had failed to provide documents required in connection with an ongoing investigation according to reports. 

Warnaweera had shunned himself by not responding to inquiries made by the ACU in any manner to the charge.

“Warnaweera was charged with an offence under Article 2.4.6 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, which relates to, 'failing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any reasonable investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code, including failure to provide information and/or documentation requested by the ACU that may be relevant to such investigation,” the ICC said in an official statement. "

Ronnie Flanagan, the chairman of ACU said that the ICC does not take pleasure in imposing a suspension, but the decision clearly illustrates what the Code means to the ICC and how seriously the ICC take matters that relate to corruption. 

“It should also act as a reminder to Participants of the need to comply with their obligations under the Code. The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and it will not hesitate in taking such decisions in its endeavor to eliminate this menace from the sport,” Flanagan had said.

Warnaweera, 55, represented Sri Lanka in ten Tests between 1986 and 1994.