By Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala service

	Mr de Silva says the ITn has made an unconditional apology to the team

DS de Silva told BBC Sandeshaya that, therefore, the SLC will not take legal action against the ITN channel, which implied Sri Lankan players guilty of match fixing when they play Pakistan on Saturday.

“We believe this is an attempt to demoralise our team,” he said.

A state television broadcast suggested Sri Lanka vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene deliberately played badly for financial gain in Saturday's Cricket World Cup defeat by Pakistan.

Jayawardene said his lawyer was drafting a letter to "get to the bottom" of the accusation by the Independent Television Network (ITN).

'No apology'

The allegation was also levelled at batsman Thilan Samaraweera.

“We have written to the ITN asking for an explanation,” says the SLC chairman.

We believe this is an attempt to demoralise our team. But we would not take any action for the moment as the television channel has already made an unconditional apology SLC chairman, DS de Silva

A commentary on Sunday on Sri Lankan state TV network ITN, written by the editor of a state newspaper, Mahinda Abeysundara, said a businessman had bet about 18,000 dollars on a Pakistan victory and that there had therefore been what he called a "chorus to change the game".

The commentator then remarked: "We just think Mahela and Thilan may have changed the game."

SLC media manager Brian Thomas said on Tuesday it also considers legal action against the television channel.

“But we would not take any action for the moment as the television channel has already made an unconditional apology. They promised to send the apology in writing tomorrow,” Mr de Silva said.

“This is a very serious offence. It is a false report. That is why we wrote to them and sought and explanation.”

But the ITN says it did not apologise.

Muslim supporters

ITN’s deputy news manager Aruna Jayakody told BBC Sandeshaya that the programme has been “wrongly interpreted.” He insisted no such allegation was made by the ITN.

	The programme implied that Mahela and Samaraweera were involved in match fixing

However, he said, the channel has already expressed regret if the players felt embarrassed as a result of airing the programme.

Meanwhile, a government MP has said that he felt sad that some Sri Lankans supported Pakistan instead of their motherland.

Former SLC chairman Thilanga Sumathipala, MP, has called on all Sri Lankans to show back the Sri Lanka cricket team at the cricket World Cup.

But the SLC chairman disagrees.

“There is a considerable Muslim community around R Premadasa stadium,” DS de Silva told the BBC.

“So they have supported Pakistan based on the religion. But there was no conflict in the ground at all. This is what we call sports.”

The chairman of the Sri Lanka cricket board added that the fans have a right to support whoever they wish to support.

“Fans can support whom they like but we know very well that the Sri Lankan team were well supported by the huge majority of fans among the 35,000 crowd,” he said.

A selection of your comments:

The Chairman of Interim committee of SLC was appointed by the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse so as ITN Chairman. So he need not to safeguard Team players but ITN. All these people are shameless and cheat the public.
Nishan, Kandy, Sri Lanka

I think Mahela should take legal action to clear himself. Otherwise this will be a black mark for his carrier.
Bandara Abayakoon, Kandy

When great batmen like Mahela and Thilan go cheaply like that suspicion is natural. I think the journalist has the freedom for his openion. Sri Lanka is a free country.I blame Mahela and Thilan for their iresponsible play. Also the iresponsible journalism.
Raja Samarasinghe, LA, USA

Media ethics shold be demostarted by the state media priority of other private media. So far this state media (ITN) did not show thier ethical consideration on thier many programme that is very sad regarding state media activities. who is responsible this immediate incidents that authority should be taken correct action in this regard.
SG, Colombo

De Silva have to rising. Mahela have to apology from the cricket specter's Why Srilanka lost the match? Mahela bated very careless very harm full for the Srilanka cricket.He have to responsibility for defeat match between Srilanka and Pakistan. We have to know cricketer involve corruption ICC have to investigate the matter.
Alfred Roland Kuranage, Venice