Match Fixing

On Wednesday, police arrested Sachithra Senanayake, a former Sri Lankan spin bowler, for match-fixing, marking the first prosecution under a 2019 law that criminalizes match-fixing in Sri Lanka.

A police unit dedicated to investigating sports-related crimes took Senanayake into custody, accusing him of influencing two players to fix matches in the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Furthermore, a guilty verdict could result in Senanayake facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to SLR100 million ($309,000).

Also, Sri Lanka has been striving to clamp down on game-fixing, prompted by concerns raised by the country’s former sports minister, Harin Fernando, who introduced this stringent legislation.

In addition, Fernando asserted that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had identified Sri Lanka as one of the most corrupt cricketing nations.

In 2012, Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning skipper, called on fans to boycott matches in protest against what he deemed “mismanagement, corruption, and indiscipline” within the national team.

The arrest of Senanayake represents a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to combat match-fixing. Lastly, whether it will deter other players from considering engaging in corrupt practices remains uncertain.

Vawda Commends Military Leadership For The Strengthening Of Rupee Against Dollar

Moreover, Former federal minister Faisal Vawda has credited military leadership including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir for appreciation in the value of Pakistani currency against US dollar. 

Vawda stated that credit should be given to the military leadership for the positive development, saying, “You should pay tribute. It is a happy day for Pakistan. The [exchange] value of the dollar witnessed a decline after the army chief issued directives to DG ISI and DG C.