Panduka Keerthinanda, a veteran legal expert, the Chairman of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority, a member of the National Sports Council and an individual of vast experience in various professions related sports in his capacity as the Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Sports during the period 2010 – 2015, has been appointed as the Legal Officer for the Sri Lanka Rugby Administration, as decided by the Council.
Keerthinanda, who is currently serving as a legal counsel for Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando, has directly been instrumental in bringing about amendments to the Sports Act such as the Convention Against Doping in Sports Act No. 33 of 2013 and the Prevention of Offenses Act relating to Sports Act No. 25 of 2019.
The Sri Lanka Rugby Administration faced severe legal obstacles in the recent past and a great effort had to be put to the restoration of the men’s and women’s teams in the Commonwealth tournament amidst a restraining order brought in by the former subject Minister and temporarily removed by the Court.
Keerthinanda may have to deal with the forces against Rugby by supporting the Administration which is putting its efforts to add certain amendments to the sports law as well as to prepare for the intervention of the objections rising in the manner of fire under ashes against the sport.
Rishivi Illiyas, President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Administration, told LNW that as a person with a passion for sports and as a person with experience and knowledge of civil law and sports law, Keerthinanda would be able to control and eliminate the rising forces that are trying to evade the sport of Rugby from its path to success.
MIAP
