February 14, Colombo (LNW): There are reports of a significant objection being raised through the Sri Lanka Rugby Executive Committee concerning the
upcoming Colombo International Rugby 11’s Tournament scheduled to take place in Colombo. Multiple members of the executive committee informed us that the current acting president participated in the press conference and granted approval for it without the appropriate consent from the executive committee.
It is also alleged that Lasitha Gunaratne, a former president, voiced criticism face to face within the executive council against the current acting president for lifting the ban on the Kandy Sports Club and allowing its participation in the Clifford Cup tournament. An executive committee member objecting to this pointed out that the responsibility of conducting such a tournament is given to the Sri Lanka Rugby, where an officer appointed by Sri Lanka Rugby is responsible to the superintendence etc.
Also, Dilroy Fernando, who is working to lead the tournament, was named as unfit for a sports administration in 2013, according to a decision taken by the Rugby administration represented by Lasitha Gunaratne, Kiran Athapattu, etc., on the advice of the Sports Ministry. Also, as a reason behind all this, the executive committee member pointed out that among the reasons for imposing the ban on Dilroy, who has been banned from joining rugby by his school, is his sports organization that he is using to manage this tournament.
The executive committee member emphasized that the objection regarding the acting president granting permission to such a individual to organize a rugby tournament without adhering to proper procedures is intended to be formally communicated to the Ministry of Sports, the Minister of Sports, and the Director
General of Sports. He further stated that legally, members of the executive committee have initiated discussions to seek a court order in order to obtain a censor for this tournament. The executive committee member who shows that he has the power to remove or request the removal of the Acting President
by acting with a person of no good identity in relation to financial matters, betraying the authority of Sri Lanka Rugby, this will be done by the Rugby administration. It is a matter of handing over a large financial profit to a competition organization by illegally obtaining permission to be obtained
from it.
“Sometimes it is possible to break the beehive and not lick the
hand’”
This executive member pointed out that it is completely doubtful that a person who participated in spreading slander against the current Acting President through social media, to work in a financial environment and hand over the will of the association to a single individual without considering the constitutional matters of the association.
“This should have been accomplished through communication with Sri Lanka Rugby and presenting a comprehensive plan that ensures our district associations also benefit financially. It is utterly inappropriate for Sri Lanka Rugby to unknowingly permit the unconditional execution of such work by an organization with questionable credibility and an individual barred from assuming responsibilities.”
He is the Acting President and not someone who was elected as President by the Sri Lanka Rugby, the executive member further states. The executive committee member who points out that it is shameless for a person who has been given to look after the work until a president is appointed for Sri Lanka Rugby in this way, like many other executive committee members about this tournament and the participation of Acting President Nalin De Silva, and the permission of Sri Lanka Rugby. The member mentioned got to know of the situation through media reports. “They lack the expertise on how to get the huge amount of money that we should be receiving from international rugby. They have made quite a mess by going to spend sponsor money. In addition, when there is a tournament that can generate more income for the Sri Lanka Rugby Fund, they appointed a man who has been accused and banned by the administration is allowed to do it secretly without paying attention to it.”
Based on all these facts, the executive committee member points out that the majority of the executive committee members have agreed to present matters not only to the Minister of Sports, the Director General of Sports, but also to the law. He said that Rizly Illiyas, who was a president who fought not only for politicians but also for the international community, to protect the independence of Sri Lankan Rugby, had the wrong idea that such a person is suitable for work.
“Many people supported Nalin due to their admiration for Illiyas. Or Nalin, the president who did not oppose Asanga’s work and was fined 50,000 pounds. Now it seems that Nalin is the zombie who sent the people who opposed Illyas away from Illyas’ control.”
He says that Nalin de Silva, who was in the Rugby administration led by Rizly Illyas, showed a completely different behavior to that administration and betrayed the conscience of the Rugby executive council. According to him, Nalin de Silva’s current demeanor is likened to a lizard adorned with gold on its back.
