Match fixing gambling regulations related to cricket in limbo

Colombo, July 20 (Daily Mirror) - The newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is awaiting government policy guidelines before formulating regulations to govern gambling activities related to cricket, according to proceedings of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF).

The CoPF met with GRA officials, including its Chairman N.M.W.N. Bandara, last week at a meeting chaired by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva.

During the meeting, Mr. Bandara said the Authority required policy guidance from the government before it could develop a regulatory framework to oversee gambling activities linked to cricket.

However, CoPF members, including Deputy Minister Chaturanga Abeysinghe, said the Chairman should write to the government urging it to expedite the issuance of the necessary policy directions.

The issue comes amid growing concerns over match-fixing and sports betting. In recent years, cricket has been tainted by allegations of corruption. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports previously arrested two individuals, including a co-owner of a franchise, while they were allegedly attempting to induce Sri Lankan cricketers to influence match outcomes in return for money.

Sports-related gambling has emerged as a major regulatory concern in recent years, prompting calls for tighter oversight.

The GRA was established under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025, to regulate gambling activities, including licensing, compliance and anti-money laundering measures. Although the Authority was required to submit the necessary regulations by the June 30 deadline, it failed to do so.

Officials informed the CoPF that draft regulations are now expected to be submitted next month.