Opposition against match fixing allegations

2 March 2011 02:21 pm Views - 7870

The opposition today took the government to task on the allegation made against few Sri Lankan cricketers of fixing the world cup match against Pakistan last Saturday. The allegation was made against the Sri Lankan Vice Captain Mahela Jayawardena and Tilan Samaraweera in a program telecasted by a state owned TV channel

The main opposition UNP called on the government to tender an apology to the cricketers while the JVP also condemned the allegation made by the state TV.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said in a statement that the government should tender an apology to the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Mr. Attanayake said this kind of allegations would tarnish the positive image which the Sri Lankan cricketers have established over the years. “This would also diminish their morale, “he said.

He said the allegation cannot be taken lightly as it had been made by a state TV channel.

Meanwhile JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath told a news conference that the party would vehemently condemn this act carried out by a state TV channel. He charged that the government takes credit whenever the Sri Lankan team does well while they come out with false allegation when they lose. He said the same practice is carried out in the case of prices changes of essential commodities. “Whenever the prices of essential items goes down the government claims the credit but pass the buck to others whenever the prices increase, “he said (Yohan Perera)