Sports Minister orders immediate probe into women’s cricket sex scandal
November 3, 2014 01:58 pm
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has instructed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to appoint an investigative committee, led by a retired female judge, to probe the shocking allegations of the Sri Lanka women’s team management and national selectors seeking sexual bribes from players.
The sex scandal had rocked Sri Lankan cricket after recent media reports revealed that women players allegedly complained of demands from certain selectors to be ‘satisfied’ if they wanted a spot on the team.
In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Sports said that Aluthgamage has informed SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga to appoint an independent committee chaired by a retired female judge and to conduct an immediate investigation into the accusations.
While the issue had been reported by local media, the allegations could harm the future of the sport as well as the country’s reputation, the ministry said, adding, that Minister Aluthgamage has therefore emphasized that necessary action would be taken based on the report provided by the said committee.
Last week, SLC said that a four member committee has been appointed to review the media reports of Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket team management and national selectors allegedly soliciting sexual bribes from players in order to be picked for representing their national side.
“Review will be based on the local media reports, since there have been no complaints, thus far,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley de Silva told Ada Derana.
An emergency meeting was called, on October 27, to direct attention on the shocking media reports, while it eventually decided to review on allegations that the management and the national selectors had allegedly solicited sexual bribe from the players.
“There is no such thing called ‘an inquiry’ in connection with this matter. What we do here is a review on the reports, since this is a serious allegation,” Silva said.
It had been reported that the SLC Executive Committee has appointed a four member committee compromising Mohan de Silva, Nishantha Ranatunga, Hirantha Perera and Sanath Jayasuriya to investigate the allegations.
