Colombo: Sri Lanka's sports minister defended yesterday wicketkeeper Kusal Perera who was suspended from the ongoing New Zealand tour after failing a drugs test, hinting at a conspiracy against the cricketer.


Kusal Perera

Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament that authorities will send a "B" sample for testing after the International Cricket Council announced last week that Perera tested positive for a banned steroid during a random check. "We are doing all we can to defend him," the minister said.