The former chief curator of the Galle stadium in Sri Lanka, Jayananda Warnaweera, has been suspended for three years by the ICC for failing to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in an ongoing investigation. He had already been suspended from all cricket activities for two years by Sri Lanka Cricket on the same charge in November last year.
Warnaweera had failed to attend scheduled interviews with the ACU on two separate occasions and also failed to provide documents required in connection with an ongoing investigation. He had not responded in any manner to the charge and is himself understood to be the subject of the ACU investigation.
According to the ICC, “Warnaweera was charged with an offence under Article 2.4.6 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, which relates to, ‘failing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any reasonable investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code, including failure to provide information and/or documentation requested by the ACU that may be relevant to such investigation.'”
Ronnie Flanagan, the ACU chairman, said: “The ICC takes no pleasure in imposing a suspension, but this decision clearly illustrates what the Code means to the ICC and how seriously we take matters that relate to corruption. It should also act as a reminder to Participants of the need to comply with their obligations under the Code. The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and it will not hesitate in taking such decisions in its endeavor to eliminate this menace from the sport.”
