Sachithra Senanayake, a former Sri Lankan spinner, was charged as an example under the law meant to stop corruption in sports in Sri Lanka. The 40-year-old Senanayake received his conviction from the High Court in Hambantota for taking part in match-fixing in a 2020 local cricket match. He is now out on bail following his arrest in September 2023. He claims he is not guilty of the charges. His last appearance for Sri Lanka came in 2016, and he took part in 74 international matches. Two Lanka Premier League players are accused of fixing matches thanks to their influence in 2020.
Police stated that Senanayake was the first one charged with violating the 2019 law that makes match-fixing an unlawful act. Whoever is found guilty can receive 10 years of imprisonment, be fined up to 100 million rupees ($333,000), or both.
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The Attorney General has filed an indictment before the Hambantota High Court against former cricketer Sachithra Senanayake, over alleged match-fixing during the 2020 Lanka Premier League:.- Hiru #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/XY3KgqaPfY
---Advertisement---— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) June 5, 2025
Senanayake’s KKR stint
In the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 2013 edition, he got nine wickets from eight games at an average of 23.22. He played just one season for KKR. In IPL 2013, KKR failed to make it into the playoffs and finished seventh on the points table.
Rules In Sri-Lanka
Harin Fernando, former Sports Minister, introduced tight rules, claiming that Sri Lanka is one of the most corrupt places in the world of cricket. A former sports minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, stated last year in parliament that match-fixing is common in Sri Lanka. Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a corruption case unrelated to his trials on corruption.
In 2012, Arjuna Ranatunga, as the captain who had led to Sri Lanka to win the 1996 World Cup, suggested that fans boycott matches as a way to discuss and resolve issues in the cricket team.
