Police detained Jaffna team co-owner Manjot Kalra ahead of the Lanka Premier League opener after an investigation into alleged attempts to bribe players.
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested Manjot Kalra, the Indian co-owner of a Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise, over allegations of attempting to bribe players just hours before the start of the 2026 tournament.
Kalra was taken into custody at a hotel in Colombo on Friday by officers from the Sports Investigation Unit, following an investigation into alleged corruption linked to the domestic Twenty20 competition.
According to Inspector Supun Vidanage, Kalra was arrested while allegedly preparing to hand over 9.5 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $28,700) to a player.
The suspect is expected to be produced before a magistrate as legal proceedings begin.
Players Reported Alleged Bribery Attempt
Investigators said the case began after one player reported being approached with an alleged bribery offer around 10 days ago.
The player immediately informed authorities, enabling police to launch an investigation.
Officials also revealed that two additional players had reportedly been approached as part of the alleged scheme, although their identities have not been disclosed.
Police have not released further details about the players or the specific matches involved in the investigation.
Lanka Premier League to Continue
Despite the high-profile arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that the Lanka Premier League would proceed as scheduled.
The tournament’s opening match, featuring Jaffna and Galle, will take place in Colombo as planned.
Kalra is listed as one of the co-owners of the Jaffna franchise.
In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the competition.
“Sri Lanka Cricket reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the tournament and will not tolerate any form of corruption, misconduct, or foul play by any stakeholder associated with the league,” the governing body said.
Previous Corruption Cases
The Lanka Premier League has previously faced corruption-related controversies.
Earlier this year, a Sri Lankan court sentenced Tamim Rahman, the British owner of the Dambulla Thunders franchise, to a four-year prison term, suspended for five years, after he admitted attempting to influence a player and organize betting activities.
Rahman was also ordered to pay a 24 million Sri Lankan rupee fine.
The conviction was secured under Sri Lanka’s 2019 anti-corruption law, legislation introduced to combat match-fixing and other forms of corruption in sport.
Focus on Tournament Integrity
The latest arrest underscores the continued efforts by Sri Lankan authorities and cricket officials to strengthen oversight of professional cricket and preserve the credibility of domestic competitions.
Sports investigators say they will continue monitoring the Lanka Premier League throughout the tournament to ensure strict compliance with anti-corruption regulations.
The investigation into the alleged bribery attempt remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced whether additional arrests or charges are expected.
