Mahindananda escapes jail term

by Rex Clementine-July 3, 2020, 9:19 pm

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been under fire from all corners for his sensational match fixing allegations and he will be lucky to escape a jail term.

Sri Lanka became the first Asian nation last year to pass legislation against corruption in sports. A section of the new legislation deals with false match fixing allegations and if found guilty an individual faces a jail term up to three years.

With the Police department dropping investigations that there was foul play in the 2011 World Cup due to lack of evidence, there was a buzz that the former Sports Minister could face a jail term. However, as the game in question was played before corruption in sports became a law in the country, there will be no provision to prosecute Aluthgamage, sources said.

His comments, however, have done irreparable damage to the reputation of the sport and to the country. Four former captains – Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga were hauled up before Police last week for questioning. During questioning the investigators found out that the former Minister was beating around the bush.

Aluthgamge constantly changed his stance as well and his every claim was countered leaving Police with no alternative but to stop investigations.

The former Minister too came in for heavy criticism by both government and opposition politicians.

Aluthgamage’s argument centered around the fact that Sri Lanka had made too many changes for the final game.

Injury to Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan warranted all the changes and the team management had communicated to local media who had travelled to Bombay to cover the game about impending changes.

All reserve players who were brought into the final had been named in the initial World Cup pool which Aluthgamage himself had approved. He had also approved the replacements although he claimed that he had no idea that new players were being flown in.

What claims such as these could do is to drive away former players from contributing to the development of the sport in Sri Lanka. Since retirement, Sangakkara and Jayawardene have had little to do with the game locally although they have been heavily involved elsewhere. While Jayawardene has had coaching stints with England national team and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Sangakkara has served on the ICC Cricket Committee and he is the current President of Marylebone Cricket Club.

De Silva has had several stints at SLC on an honourary basis and three years ago quit as Chairman of Cricket Committee due to differences of opinions.