Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday imposed a one-year suspension sentence – suspended by six months - and a 50% fine of his next ODI match fee on slinger Lasith Malinga for repeated breach of Sri Lanka Cricket terms of contract.

Accordingly, the national cricketer would be allowed to play the forthcoming Zimbabwe series, and penalty would only be imposed on him in the event of a similar infraction within the stipulated six-month period.

SLC yesterday convened an emergency meeting of its Executive Committee to look into a number of issues including the conduct of Lasith Malinga, who had addressed the media without prior approval of two occasions, in breach of contract.

A panel of three – Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva SLC Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva and Chairman Disciplinary Committee Asela Rekawa – was appointed to inquire into the action of Lasith Malinga and announced their outcome last evening.

Lasith Malinga had addressed the media without prior SLC permission on two occasions - and had retorted to Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera's comments that players were 'fat' by likening the Sports Minister to a monkey.