To combat systemic corruption, Sri Lanka Cricket has introduced harsher sanctions for match-fixing and betting violations. Introduced by Sports Minister Harin Fernando, the 'Prevention of Offenses Related to Sports' bill has been officially passed by parliament. This landmark legislation applies across all sports, making Sri Lanka the first country in Asia to treat such corruption as a criminal matter.
Sri Lanka Cricket has acquired harder punishments for coordinating fixing and fixed games betting guidelines in an attempt to stamp out the corruption scandals. The newest legislation covers all games and it is believed that the ongoing investigation by the Anti – Corruption Unit. Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Harin Fernando introduced the bill in the parliament. Sri Lanka has become the primary first Asian country to condemn a few offenses identified with coordinating fixing parliament passed each of the three readings of a bill marked Prevention of Offenses Related to Sports.
Reports from ESPNcricinfo indicate that individuals found guilty of sports corruption can now be sentenced to up to a decade in prison and be forced to pay heavy fines. This broad legislation covers all sporting disciplines and is believed to be a direct result of ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit.
Sports Minister Harin Fernando presented the proposal in parliament, where it gained significant support from cabinet minister and former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga. To ensure the law was robust, the Sports Ministry worked in close coordination with the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit during the drafting phase.
The law doesn't just target those actively fixing matches; it also penalizes anyone providing inside information to gamblers. This includes curators who manipulate pitch conditions for betting syndicates or match officials who deliberately misapply rules for financial gain—both of whom now face potential imprisonment.
Furthermore, it is now a crime for former players or sports officials to act as intermediaries between corruptors and current athletes. The bill also introduces penalties for 'acts of omission,' meaning that failing to report a corrupt approach is now illegal. Sri Lankan players are now legally obligated to report such incidents to both the ICC’s ACU and a government-appointed Special Investigation Unit.
The severity of these issues is highlighted by cases like Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who received a two-year ban (one year suspended) for failing to report a fixing attempt. Similarly, Sri Lanka Cricket has been under ICC scrutiny since 2017, a period that saw former star Sanath Jayasuriya serve a two-year ban under the ICC Code.