Match Fixing Criminalised in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has criminalised match fixing, the first nation in South Asia to do so. Penalties for committing the crime will be severe, with players facing up to 10 years in prison and a fine of €502,000.

The bill has not yet been finalised but it passed through its third and final reading in Parliament this week and now only needs to be published in Sri Lanka’s Official Gazette for it to become actual law.

Comprehensive legislation 

The bill is known as the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports and is intended to stop any individual who is connected to sport being able to profit from their position. No-one will be permitted to make financial gain as the legislation includes everyone from officials to athletes, support staff and even venue employees.

The legislation is extremely thorough and considers every minute aspect which could be manipulated to help gain an advantage. For example, ground staff are not allowed to prepare the surface in a way which would be beneficial for betting operators, or other such individuals outside the sport.

Even those who don’t participate directly could find themselves hauled up before the law. Ex-players who use their connection to introduce corrupt fixers to players or other staff will be prosecuted within the full extent of the law too.

Individuals who are guilty of not taking action will be considered as culpable as those who directly seek to fix matches. Obstructing a match fixing investigation or failing to report approaches or attempts to fix a match come with a fine of €1000 and a prison sentence of up to three years.

Making false allegations about corruption will involve a €500 fine and three years in jail. Disclosing information considered to be confidential is a slightly heavier penalty with a €2500 fine and three years in jail.

Investigative body 

Sri Lanka has been beset by allegations of match fixing and corruption for many years and is determined that this legislation will be effective.

It has set up a Special Investigations Unit whose primary function is to monitor all investigations into unlawful activity and corruption within Sri Lankan sport. This will include any prosecutions for match-fixing.

Every officer on the investigative unit will serve a three year term and will be ranked at superintendent level or above.