The committee appointed by the Sports Minister to probe allegations related to the Sri Lankan cricket team that represented the T20 World Cup held in Australia has recommended a full-scale forensic audit over the expenditure incurred to travel to Australia.
The report of the committee chaired by retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojani Weerawardena was handed over to the Sports Minister last Tuesday.
Statements were obtained from the President of the National Sports Council and former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga, public officials who knew facts about the T20 World Cup tournament, officials of Sri Lanka Cricket, players of the national cricket team and Pastor Jerome Fernando who heads a Born-Again religious congregation.
According to the report of the committee, Jayantha Dharmadasa, Raveen Wickramaratne, Sujeeva Godaliyadda, Samantha Dodanwela, Priyantha Algama, Bandula Dissanayake, Rear Admiral Nishantha de Silva and Nalin Aponsu had ignored the notices sent requesting them to provide statements before the committee.
It has been revealed that more than half of the sixteen executive committee officers of Sri Lanka Cricket had gone to Australia for the T20 World Cup, receiving a huge amount of money, about US dollars 700 per day, which is 7,000 dollars for each for a period of ten days on business class air tickets.
The report highlights that several financial malpractices have taken place during the tour and has hence recommended a complete audit of the finances related to the T20 World Cup. The report also calls for legal action against those found guilty of financial malpractices related to the T20 World Cup.
The report observes that the attachment provided by the Sri Lanka Cricket over the expenditure on the 16 SLC officials who went to Australia, looks to be a false report.
Stating that it seems that it’s a report prepared to conceal details from the committee, the report said that this shows evidence of SLC funds having been misappropriated.
A statement was also recorded from cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who was accused of sexually assaulting an Australian woman and was banned from leaving Australia by the country’s court, using Zoom technology.
Stating that the cricketer had acknowledged his encounter with an Australian woman with mutual consent, the report recommended that disciplinary action must be taken against Danushka Gunatilleke over the incident.
On the incident relating to a brawl between cricketer Chamika Karunaratne and another individual at the residing hotel, the report said as investigations have been conducted by the SLC and the cricketer has been issued a punishment, further action is not required.
The report further states testimonies by Sri Lanka Cricket officials and a prominent religious priest have revealed the involvement of certain cricketers of the national team with a particular religious sect.
In his testimony, Pastor Jerome Fernando had initially denied the involvement of any cricketers but had later contradicted his statement, revealing that several cricketers are followers of his sect.
Stating that even though there is no clear evidence of the religious sect’s influence on the team, the report states attention must be drawn to the matter as there are possibilities of future interference and influence on the cricket team.
Stating that the Sri Lankan cricketers are a national asset that brings pride to Sri Lanka, the committee recommended that the process of engaging in religious observances prior to players leaving for an international tournament which was followed for many years should be brought back.
The committee has also recommended strict social media rules for cricketers and has also recommended players should be allowed to take family members on tour at their own expense.
The committee added that it is of the opinion that players could avoid going out unnecessarily during free time if there families are around with them. (NewsWire)
