Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has strongly denied allegations made by MP Hesha Withanage in Parliament, dismissing them as baseless and false.
During a parliamentary debate on March 18, MP Withanage claimed that SLC had paid Rs. 150,000 as a salary to then-Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and provided him with a laptop, mobile phone, and other benefits, alleging these actions amounted to bribery.
In a statement SLC refuted the claims, stating that it has never made any payments or provided any perks to Tennakoon. The board stressed that it is committed to security arrangements for international cricket events, noting that it routinely engages with security personnel, including senior police officers, to ensure safety.
SLC clarified that during Tennakoon’s tenure as Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province, his expertise was sought regarding security for international cricket tours, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Tennakoon informed SLC that he required authorization for such engagements and ultimately did not take on any official role with the organization.
SLC condemned MP Withanage’s remarks, urging responsible conduct in public statements to prevent harm to institutional and individual reputations. (Islandnews)
