By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Sport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma denied of receiving any proof or any official evidence so far to match fixing claims at the 2011 cricket world cup final against India in Mumbai. He further said that he had instructed the secretary to the ministry of sports to find out on the development of the issue with the Sri Lanka Cricket and International Cricket Council. He said it was his duty as the sports minister to initiate an investigation on the allegations by former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
Meanwhile former sports minister Aluthgamage said that he had handed over six page report which also consisted eight additional documents, to the hands of the specially appointed officers at Narahenpita on Wednesday. After he handed over the report , Former Minister Aluthgamage said: “that his allegations were based on the charges made by ICC Anti-corruption Unit Head Alex Marshall on 23 December 2018, saying that Sri Lanka is the most corrupt country of the world of cricket.”
“I have mentioned 24 facts that are suspicious which caused Sri Lanka to lose the (World Cup 2011) tournament. Some players had expressed their views even after I have said that players are not involved in these allegations.” Mahindananda explained urging all parties to assist the investigation without doing politics with this serious issue. “Don’t target this to the (forthcoming general) election. I request both the President and Sports Minister to give us a report on the investigation within three months.” he added.
Meanwhile the former cricketer and official Aravinda de Silva, who was the head of National selection during 2011 world cup, in an interview, told a local television channel over the weekend that he requested the Indian Government and Indian Cricket Board to immediately start an investigation over former Minister Aluthgamage’s allegation.
“The team selection was not by me alone. There was the Captain (Kumar Sangakkara) and many more involved in picking the final eleven (for the final match). If he Minister Aluthgamage had proof, why had he waited nine years to come out with this accusation? He can now reveal the proof to the ICC (International Cricket Council) Anti Corruption Unit,” de Silva questioned
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