The Ministry of Sports Special Investigations Unit said the investigations into 2011 World Cup final match-fixing claims would be discontinued due to lack of evidence.

A senior police officer heading the unit told the media that the statements recorded from former cricketers were sufficient to conclude that there was no evidence to prove the claims.

Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara appeared before the unit yesterday and gave a nine-hour statement. Although former skipper Mahela Jayawardena was also expected to be summoned this morning, sports authorities changed their decision at the last moment as the investigation came under heavy fire on social media.

The youth wing of the main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya, staged a protest opposite Sri Lanka Cricket against what they termed the continuous harassment of Sri Lankan cricketers.

They said the government was on a witch hunt against cricketers as they foiled the government's plan to construct a cricket stadium in Homagama.

The protest coincided with Sangakkara's appearance before the Special Investigations Unit of the Ministry of Sports to make a statement relating to allegations of match-fixing at the 2011 World Cup Final. Sangakkara captained the Sri Lankan cricket team in the ICC World Cup2011.

The investigation came in the wake of former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage's allegation that the final match of the 2011 World Cup was fixed and "sold to India."