The Attorney General has recommended that the Sports Ministry’s report on the national cricket team’s tour to Australia during the 2022 World Cup be forwarded to the Auditor General.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said that the Attorney General has recommended that the report be forwarded to the Auditor General for a forensic audit.
He further said that the Attorney General has also recommended banning cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who is accused of sexual assault in Australia, from all forms of cricket until the judgement of his trial is issued.
The Attorney General issued his directive after the Sports Ministry sought the AG’s advice on the recommendation made by a six-member committee that investigated a number of alleged wrongdoings among players, officials and associates during the T20 World Cup in Australia late last year.
A committee headed by Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena was appointed by the Sports Minister to conduct a proper investigation of the allegations and it found that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has spent over Rs.65 million to send 16 administrators to watch the T20 World Cup despite instructions from the Sports Ministry to minimise costs.
The committee found enough ground to dissolve the SLC, while it recommended in its 63-page report to the Minister of Sports to exercise his powers under the Sports Law and regulations promulgated thereunder to suspend, cancel or re-energise SLC’s affiliation with the Ministry.
In the latest development, the Attorney General’s Department has advised the Ministry of Sports to request the government auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit of Sri Lanka Cricket’s World Cup expenditure before pressing for legal action.
Sports Minister also said that it has been decided to call for applications form suitable candidates to be part of the Sri Lanka Cricket selection committee. (NewsWire)
