Calcutta/Colombo: Lasith Malinga was given a suspended sentence of a one-year ban, along with a fine, for speaking to the media without permission.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), announced on their website on Tuesday the outcome of the disciplinary inquiry held against the national player, in regard to his breach of tour contract.

Malinga was found guilty of breach of contract, and Malinga accepted the charges levelled against him and tendered a formal apology.

The SLC wrote on its website: "The finding were subsequently reported to a specially convened executive committee meeting, who imposed a sentence of a one year suspension, suspended for six months (whereby the punishment would be imposed in the event of a similar infraction within the stipulated six month period) and a 50 per cent fine of his next ODI match fee."

Malinga would be available for selection for the forthcoming Zimbabwe series.

The inquiry was initiated after Malinga reacted to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara's comments on the fitness of the Sri Lanka players. Jayasekara had alleged that Sri Lanka's poor fielding in the Champions Trophy was due to inadequate fitness of the players, and referred to their "big bellies."

Malinga, since his return from the Champions Trophy in England, had on two occasions acted in "contravention of the terms of agreement," which specifically barred him from making any statement to the media without the prior approval of the SLC's CEO.

Malinga had publicly ridiculed the minister's knowledge of cricket, saying that catches are missed in any game and implying that he was no more than an armchair critic. He further added that nobody had raised fitness issues when Sri Lanka defeated India during a league game.