Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has found itself entangled in an unusual controversy as it extends a secret consultancy contract to the current Senior Deputy Inspector General (S/DIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon. The unprecedented move has raised eyebrows, with concerns about transparency and appropriateness.

In an exclusive arrangement, SLC is said to have offered S/DIG Tennakoon a consultancy role with a monthly compensation of LKR 150,000, along with an additional 200 litres of petrol and LKR 5,000 for phone expenses. The offer also includes the provision of a laptop. The nature and specifics of the consultancy role remain shrouded in secrecy, emphasizing the confidentiality of the arrangement.

However, the clandestine contract has not escaped the scrutiny of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, who has called for a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) inquiry into the matter. The move comes as questions arise about the appropriateness of a law enforcement official entering into a contractual agreement with a sports organization.

S/DIG Tennakoon has acknowledged the offer but revealed that then Ministry Secretary Jagath Alwis had advised him to decline the proposal. The Senior DIG, however, claims that he offered to support SLC without a formal contract, as he had done in the past.

The revelation has prompted concerns about the potential conflict of interest and the need for transparency within Sri Lanka Cricket, which is already facing a suspension from the ICC.