Sri Lanka has clamped down on match-fixing and corruption in sports betting with stricter penalties and tougher restrictions, reports Agence France Presse. The move is a reaction to graft scandals that have dogged the country’s cricket team, including claims of match-fixing ahead of an international contest against England last year.
“Many tried to prevent this piece of legislation, but I am happy that it was taken up today,” Sports Minister Harin Fernando said after the law was passed unanimously by parliament.
Betting on sports matches in Sri Lanka is already illegal, but the new rules also ban Sri Lankans from gambling on overseas contests. Offenders could face up to 10 years in jail and fines of up to 100 million rupees (US$555,000) for match-fixing. The new law also bans people with family links to gambling businesses from sitting on the sport’s local governing body.
Fernando said the sport is riddled with graft “from top to bottom” and said the International Cricket Council views Sri Lanka as one of the world’s most corrupt cricketing nations.
