Unconditional apology from ITN - SLC

A state-run television station has made an “unconditional apology” to national cricket team, says the chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

 

DS de Silva told BBC Sandeshaya that, therefore, the SLC will not take legal action against the ITN channel, which implied Sri Lankan players guilty of match fixing when they play Pakistan on Saturday.

 

“We believe this is an attempt to demoralise our team,” he said.

 

A state television broadcast suggested Sri Lanka vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene deliberately played badly for financial gain in Saturday’s Cricket World Cup defeat by Pakistan.

 

Jayawardene said his lawyer was drafting a letter to “get to the bottom” of the accusation by the Independent Television Network (ITN).

 

‘No apology’

 

The allegation was also levelled at batsman Thilan Samaraweera.

 

“We have written to the ITN asking for an explanation,” says the SLC chairman.

 

A commentary on Sunday on Sri Lankan state TV network ITN, written by the editor of a state newspaper, Mahinda Abeysundara, said a businessman had bet about 18,000 dollars on a Pakistan victory and that there had therefore been what he called a “chorus to change the game”.

 

The commentator then remarked: “We just think Mahela and Thilan may have changed the game.”

 

SLC media manager Brian Thomas said on Tuesday it also considers legal action against the television channel.

 

“But we would not take any action for the moment as the television channel has already made an unconditional apology. They promised to send the apology in writing tomorrow,” Mr de Silva said.

 

“This is a very serious offence. It is a false report. That is why we wrote to them and sought and explanation.”

 

But the ITN says it did not apologise.

 

Muslim supporters

 

ITN’s deputy news manager Aruna Jayakody told BBC Sandeshaya that the programme has been “wrongly interpreted.” He insisted no such allegation was made by the ITN.

 

However, he said, the channel has already expressed regret if the players felt embarrassed as a result of airing the programme.

 

Meanwhile, a government MP has said that he felt sad that some Sri Lankans supported Pakistan instead of their motherland.

 

Former SLC chairman Thilanga Sumathipala, MP, has called on all Sri Lankans to show back the Sri Lanka cricket team at the cricket World Cup.

 

But the SLC chairman disagrees.

 

“There is a considerable Muslim community around R Premadasa stadium,” DS de Silva told the BBC.

 

“So they have supported Pakistan based on the religion. But there was no conflict in the ground at all. This is what we call sports.”

 

The chairman of the Sri Lanka cricket board added that the fans have a right to support whoever they wish to support.

 

“Fans can support whom they like but we know very well that the Sri Lankan team were well supported by the huge majority of fans among the 35,000 crowd,” he said, BBC reports.