In a watershed moment for Sri Lankan sport, former off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been formally indicted by the Hambantota High Court – becoming the first cricketer in the country to be charged under the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act, a groundbreaking law introduced in 2019 to tackle corruption in sport.
The charges relate to an alleged approach made during the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) in November 2020, where Senanayake is accused of attempting to induce a player to underperform. Authorities claim the former international made contact via WhatsApp and allegedly instructed the player to remain silent about a separate corrupt approach involving another individual.
The Attorney General’s Department, after a three-year investigation, has filed charges of soliciting, instigating and instructing a player in efforts to manipulate a match outcome – crimes now punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a Rs. 100 million fine. Voice recordings and call data were cited among the evidence presented.
This is the first time Sri Lanka’s anti-sports corruption law – introduced by then Sports Minister Harin Fernando – has been tested in court, making Senanayake the face of a legal milestone. The legislation was internationally lauded for setting a precedent in South Asia, where cricket’s integrity has often come under fire.
Senanayake, a member of the 2014 T20 World Cup winning side, has denied all wrongdoing and is currently out on bail. Prosecutors allege he contacted at least two other players from overseas locations with similar corrupt intentions during the same LPL season.
His is the most high-profile name yet in Sri Lanka’s tightening noose around corruption in sport. In recent years, several LPL franchise owners have also been arrested following complaints from players and coaches over attempts to corrupt games. These cases remain under judicial review, with the accused out on bail.
The International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit has praised Sri Lanka’s tough stance, with this indictment sending a strong message: the days of impunity are over. The cricketing world will watch closely as Senanayake’s case unfolds – both for its legal precedent and its implications on the sport’s future in the island nation.
