A Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) ‘Anti-Corruption Unit’ (ACU) has exonerated President Thilanga Sumathipala of having ‘any links to the gaming industry’.

In a ‘special statement’ released today SLC said the ACU had ‘confirmed’ that the allegations against Sumathipala ‘has no substance’.

'Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to deny the malicious, defamatory and vicious articles and stories circulating via both mainstream and social media claiming that SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala is involved in the gaming industry,’ it said.

‘We wish to clarify that extracts of court proceedings are quoted out of context and have been done maliciously,’ it said, adding that ‘the ACU of SLC which operates under the ICC has confirmed that the allegations levelled against Sumathipala with regard to connections with the gaming industry has no substance.’