New legislation to prevent sports offences

By Kelum Bandara

The government has evolved a piece of legislation to be enacted by Parliament to prevent offences such as match fixing, corruption, manipulation and illegal betting in sports, Daily Mirror learns.   

The bill titled ‘the Prevention of Offences relating to Sports’ as already was gazetted by the government. It will be tabled in Parliament shortly.   
The bill, if enacted, seeks to strengthen national and international co-operation among sports organisations, law enforcement agencies and betting operators to exchange information relating to match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports and promote best practices in sports.  

Also, it seeks to conduct programmes in order to promote awareness on such issues relating to match fixing.   

An independent, impartial Special Investigations Unit will be established to carry out investigations into offences. Any person who commits an offence specified in the bill will be a liable to a fine of not exceeding rupees one hundred million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or both fine and imprisonment.   

The bill titled ‘the Prevention of Offences relating to Sports’ as already was gazetted by the government. It will be tabled in Parliament shortly. 

 
The bill, if enacted, seeks to strengthen national and international co-operation among sports organisations, law enforcement agencies and betting operators to exchange information relating to match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports and promote best practices in sports.  

Also, it seeks to conduct programmes in order to promote awareness on such issues relating to match fixing.   

An independent, impartial Special Investigations Unit will be established to carry out investigations into offences. Any person who commits an offence specified in the bill will be liable to a fine of not exceeding rupees one hundred million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or both fine and imprisonment.