Several teams at the LPL 2023 were funded by illegal crypto currency and betting firms, parliament was told yesterday (24).
There were heated exchanges during the House debate on an audit report into Sri Lanka Cricket.
Just before the commencement of the debate, a court injunction was issued to SJB MP Hesha Vithanage against making remarks defamatory of SLC officials.
However, the MP went onto to accuse politicians and cricket administrators of being paid by SLC for running cricket in the provinces.
Politicians, officials paid by SLC
Sanath Jayasuriya is the only ex-player to head a district cricket committee, while the politicians Vithanage named for involvement in administration are Sarath Ekanayake, Chinthaka Mayadunne, C.B. Ratnayake and Kanchana Jayaratne.
SLC officials involved at the provinces include Mohan de Silva, Sujeewa Godaliyadde, Godfrey Dabare and Vijith Madampe, he said.
Wijedasa’s revelation
Joining the debate, minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe said crypto currency and betting were promoted during the LPL this year, with funding coming from the offshore betting website Sky Fare and 15 others that run illegal offshore forex websites.
B Love, a banned crypto Currency firm, has sponsored the Kandy team, Rajapakshe noted.
He urged the sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe to correct all these wrongs.
SLC now funding rugby
Instead of developing cricket at school level, SLC is now giving Rs. 200 million to Kandy Rugby Union to upgrade its stadium, alleged SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella.
NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged the government to take immediate steps to save SLC from a powerful mafia.
Sports minister Ranasinghe, who spoke during the debate, alleged some eyeing his portfolio were trying to create trouble between the president and him.
(Source: BBC Sinhala Service)
