Colombo: Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday asked Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board to appoint an investigative committee, led by a retired female judge, to probe into allegations that officials in women's cricket administration demanded sexual bribes to give places in the national team.
The sex scandal had rocked Sri Lankan cricket after recent media reports claimed that women cricketers allegedly complained of demands from certain selectors to be "satisfied" if they wanted a spot in the team.
In a statement issued yesterday, Aluthgamage has ordered SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga to appoint a committee and conduct an immediate investigation into the allegations.
Aluthgamage said that the allegations are derogatory and damaging the international image of the country, in addition to the damage it causes to the well being of women's cricket in Sri Lanka.
After the matter was reported by local media, SLC had appointed its own investigation inquiry into the allegations.
Last week, SLC said that a four-member committee has been appointed to review the media reports of Sri Lanka Women's Cricket team management and national selectors allegedly soliciting sexual bribes from players in order to be picked for their national side.
"Review will be based on the local media reports, since there have been no complaints, thus far," SLC CEO Ashley de Silva had been quoted as saying in the local media.
An emergency meeting was called on October 27 to direct attention on the media reports. "There is no such thing called 'an inquiry' in connection with this matter. What we do here is a review on the reports, since this is a serious allegation," Silva had said.
