PREVENTION OF OFFENCES RELATING TO SPORTS ACT
Arrangement of Sections
1. Short title.
PART I
Objects and the Application of the Provisions of the Act
2. Objects of the Act.
3. Secretary to enter into agreements, &c.
PART II
Chapter I
Offences of Match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and
illegal betting in Sports
4. Offence of match fixing in sports.
5. Offence of corruption in sports.
6. Offence of illegal manipulation in sports.
7. Offence of illegal betting in sports.
8. Aiding, abetting, attempting, &c., to be an offence.
9. Penalty for an offence under section 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
Chapter II
Other Offences
10. Failure to disclose information to be an offence.
11. Failure to co-operate etc., in relation to an investigation to be an offence.
12. Failure to maintain confidentiality by a service provider to be an offence.
13. Making false allegations to be an offence.
14. Offences by a body of persons.
15. Interpretation.
PART III
Disclosure of Information
16. Disclosing information to the Secretary, &c.
17. Secretary or Director of Sports to refer information to the Unit.
18. Disclosing connections with betting operators to the Secretary or Director of Sports.
PART IV
Investigation and Prosecution of Offences
19. Offences under this Act to be investigated under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.
20. An offence under Chapter I of Part II to be a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
21. Appointment of the Special Investigations Unit.
22. Disclosure of conflict of interest.
23. Investigation of offences by the Unit.
24. Powers of the Unit.
25. Institution of criminal proceedings.
26. Unit to enter and search premises or persons.
27. Preservation of information.
28. Seizure of any device not to hamper its ordinary use.
29. Issuing a list of seized documents, &c.
30. High Court to try offences under Chapter I of Part II.
PART V
General
31. Duty to maintain secrecy.
32. Service providers to maintain confidentiality.
33. Maintenance of code of ethics.
34. Reward Fund.
35. Protection for acts done in good faith.
36. Provisions relating to extradition arrangements.
37. Amendment of the Extradition Law, No. 8 of 1977.
38. Interpretation in relation to the Extradition Law.
39. Regulations.
40. Interpretation.
41. Sinhala text to prevail in case of inconsistency.
24 of 2019.
An Act to provide for the prevention of match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports and for the appointment of a Special Investigations Unit for investigation of offences and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
[Date of Commencement: 22nd November, 2019]
1. Short title.
This Act may be cited as the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act.
PART I
Objects and the Application of the Provisions of the Act
2. Objects of the Act.
The objects of the Act shall be—
(a) to prevent match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports;
(b) to strengthen national and international co-operation among sports organizations, 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;
(c) to conduct programs in order to promote awareness on issues relating to match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports and improve coordination amongst stake holders;
(d) to protect and maintain the integrity of national sports;
(e) to introduce and promote preventive measures in collaboration with law enforcement agencies against match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports;
(f) to protect the goodwill and livelihood of professional sports personnel; and
(g) to appoint an independent, impartial Special Investigations Unit to carry out investigations into offences of match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports.
3. Secretary to enter into agreements, &c.
For the purpose of achieving the objects of this Act, the Secretary may, with the concurrence of the Minister—
(a) enter into any agreement or memorandum of understanding under this Act with any sports organization or law enforcement agency, whether national or international, to promote best practices in sports and maintaining and upgrading professional standards of sports; and
(b) exchange information relating to match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports with any national or international sports organization or law enforcement agency.
PART II
Chapter I
Offences of Match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in Sports
4. Offence of match fixing in sports.
(1) Any person or any person connected to a sport who, directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with another or others gets involved in any arrangement on an irregular alteration of the course or the result of any sport or sporting event for money or any other reward or benefit, including any arrangement where—
(a) any person or any person connected to a sport—
(i) engages in betting, gambling or any other activity involving financial or any other advantage to himself or another person, or causes a financial disadvantage or loss to another person knowing that it would corrupt any sport or sporting event;
(ii) acts in a manner that ensures the occurrence of any improper performance, act, omission or an outcome, which is the subject of an illegal bet relating to a sport or any sporting event;
(iii) provides for financial or any other advantage, reward or benefit, any inside information relating to a sport, any sporting event or any person, to any person including a betting operator, other than in connection with bona fide media interviews and commitments;
(iv) provides or receives any gift, payment, reward or benefit, financial or otherwise, that might reasonably be expected to bring such person or any sport or sporting event into disrepute; or
(v) engages in any act or omission that is directly or indirectly related to any of the conduct specified in the preceding paragraphs and is prejudicial to the interests of any sport or sporting event;
(b) any individual player or a group of players—
(i) receives money or any other reward or benefit individually or collectively to underperform or to withdraw from such sport or sporting event for non-genuine reasons; or
(ii) bets on such sport or sporting event in which such player or group of players plays undermining the performance;
(c) any umpire, match adjudicator or match referee deliberately misapplies the rules of the sport or sporting event for money or any other reward or benefit;
(d) any curator or any member of any venue staff, ground staff or support staff receives money or any other reward or benefit—
(i) to prepare any turf, ground or playing surface of any sport or sporting event in a way agreeable to any person including a betting operator; or
(ii) to disclose information of the preparation and condition of the turf, ground or playing surface of any sport or sporting event; or
(e) any person including a retired player or any person connected to a sport is utilised by any other person to gain access to local or foreign players in order to influence their performance for money or any other reward or benefit,
commits the offence of match fixing in sports.
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