Ex-minister's 'sixer' on Cricket World Cup 2011
The investigations into the allegations made by former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage of match-fixing at the Cricket World cup finals in 2011 where Sri Lanka was defeated by India, have not gone well with his own party members.
Some of his own party colleagues like Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, openly criticised Mr Aluthgamage, for his belated claim.
This is after former national cricket captains Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and Upul Tharanga, and the Cricket Selection Committee's former Chairman Aravinda de Silva were summoned before the Special Investigations team to record their statements. This happened at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium.
Last week, at a meeting of SLPP candidates held to discuss election preparations the issue came up. A young former UPFA MP contesting under the SLPP was locked in a heated argument with Mr Aluthgamage claiming that he caused damage to the party by calling for an investigation on the cricketers.
The young former MP, insiders say, pulled out a weapon which was in the hands of the security officer and pointed it at the former Minister. He was unaware that the officer had emptied the bullets.
After all the confusion, the Sports Ministry announced on Friday that the investigations had been called off due to “lack of evidence.” Mr Aluthgamage seems to have received some undue publicity. Any publicity is better than no publicity for a politician, Mr Aluthgamage would say – even if it meant it hurt his party.