Warnaweera has been suspended for three years by the ICC

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended former Galle curator Jayananda Warnaweera for three years after he failed to co-operate with the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in an ongoing investigation.

Warnaweera, who was suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for two years on the same charge last November, failed to attend two separate interviews with the ACU that had been scheduled. Furthermore, he also failed to hand in documents that were pertinent to the ongoing investigation.

The 55-year-old has not responded to the suspension and is understood to be the subject of the ACU investigation.

“Warnaweera was charged with an offence under Article 2.4.6 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, which relates to, ‘failing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any reasonable investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code, including failure to provide information and/or documentation requested by the ACU that may be relevant to such investigation,'” the ICC said.

ACU chairman Ronnie Flanagan added: “The ICC takes no pleasure in imposing a suspension, but this decision clearly illustrates what the Code means to the ICC and how seriously we take matters that relate to corruption.

“It should also act as a reminder to Participants of the need to comply with their obligations under the Code. The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and it will not hesitate in taking such decisions in its endeavor to eliminate this menace from the sport.”