SPIU probing match fixing allegations involving foreigner
The Sports Ministry’s Special Police Investigation Unit (SPIU) chief SSP Jagath Fonseka said they have launched an investigation into match fixing allegations before the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia which will commence today at the Galle International cricket stadium.
“We got information about one local tourist guide who was very keen to get the Galle pitch report before the match starts today”.
The SPIU chief further said We have inquired about this tourist guide and it’s very clear the influence of the foreigner attached to a neighbouring country on this issue and we are probing this incident.
It is reliably understood that the foreigner tried to use this tourist guide to get all the information about the pitch report before the first test match.
Police have already questioned this tourist guide from the SPIU head office based in Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo and also questioned the Galle Cricket Stadium Manager. The chief of SPIU SSP Jagath Fonseka further said he has already informed the International Cricket Council(ICC) Anti corruption Unit officials as well as International Police and Sri Lanka Cricket and hope to make further investigations. However when the Daily News asked about this issue the SPIU Chief said we have our unit to investigate this type of issues and they have already questioned a few people regarding this and hope to give more information to the ICC anti corruption unit..
The accused (tourist travel guide’s) mobile phone numbers and other information have been obtained and phone numbers and other details are being investigated by the SPIU unit said SSP Jagath Fonseka.
The Galle International Cricket Stadium recorded several match fixing allegations earlier and questioned by ICC Anti Corruption Unit. Al Jazeera’s Investigation Unit has revealed how a criminal fixed two Test matches earlier at Galle in 2016 and 2017 against India and Australia and the Investigation Unit is very serious about this issue after these incidents. Meanwhile SLC senior official said they have their own Anti Corruption Unit at SLC and they are also very serious about these types of issues and very much concerned about the local and foreign spectators during the match .
In fact most of the teams including Sri Lanka already started to give their final official team list before the match date and this also helped to avoid the match fixing allegations. Match fixing and spot fixing and betting are very common today especially at International level and officials of the Anti Corruption Unit are very serious about these issues said senior official of the SLC.
The Special Police Investigation Unit (SPIU) of the Sri Lanka Police has been established to prevent betting, corruption, illicit manipulation and illegal betting, with the aim of safeguarding and maintaining the integrity of all national sports in Sri Lanka. This unit was formed by former Sports Minister Dullas Alahapperuma in February 2020.