March 09, Colombo (LNW): The provincial unions refused to attend the meeting called by the Director General of Sports, boycotting it in protest against his decision to delay the elections based on a letter from Asian Rugby, rather than complying with the ruling of the country’s courts. Later, when a meeting was called again on March 6th, saying that the Minister of Sports would also participate, the participation of some of the provincial unions that had attended on the first day had also decreased, and only one of the unions that had attended had participated.
Organizations such as Asia Rugby, World Rugby, and others are currently working to bring together officials from the Ministry of Sports and politicians to amend the constitution, create a ‘monster,’ and shift power to the ‘A’ sports clubs, effectively placing the entire administrative structure of rugby under the control of an elite class. Therefore, despite lacking constitutional authority, the Director General of Sports initiated a trend of inviting ‘A’ sports clubs to these discussions. These clubs were also called to meet the current Minister, who is following in the footsteps of previous sports ministers.
The Minister indirectly raised objections to the boycotting provincial unions, stating that his government holds two-thirds power and will utilize it to amend the existing constitution as per the requirements of the Asia Rugby and the World Rugby. Some members of the ‘A’ sports clubs have also expressed their disappointment that the Minister failed to acknowledge in his remarks that he was appointed by the people to serve a government that makes decisions in their interest, not to act as a puppet dancing to the tunes of Asia Rugby and World Rugby.
According to the existing constitution, the chairman of Sri Lanka Rugby has always been a member of the ‘A’ clubs, except for one instance. This has taken place with the consent of the ‘A’ clubs representing the provincial unions, as well as all clubs at lower levels.
When a president from outside the sports clubs came in, instead of the rugby democracy they enjoyed, politicians, certain officials from rugby itself, and some people from the Sports Ministry joined forces to steal the sponsorship that Sri Lanka Rugby had and use it to sponsor Asian-level matches. After that, the president who was appointed single-handedly found funds from his own money and through sponsors and pushed rugby forward. There, no attempts were made to forcibly include members of small sports clubs from provincial unions in the national team. Instead, while ensuring high-level competitions for these clubs, efforts were focused on selecting and preparing the best team to represent the Commonwealth Games through alternative training processes conducted by the ‘A’ sports clubs.
After the minister’s speech, these issues previously overlooked by the sports clubs for their own interests became a topic of discussion among them. Many have expressed concern over the minister’s hints at using political power, even while a case remains pending in court. This has led to growing suspicion about the increasing politicization of the sport, to the point where even legal action seems ineffective. As a result, many within the sports clubs have been left disappointed in themselves.
It has also been observed that the efforts of small provincial sports clubs in nurturing talented students after they leave school—until they reach the ‘A’ sports clubs—could present a challenge to the overall development of rugby in the country, as highlighted by our website.
Many individuals involved in sports, as well as those active in sports clubs, have begun speaking out about the minister’s actions and the constitution being forcibly amended. Viewing the situation from a new perspective, they have come to recognize the serious risks it poses. Additionally, the Minister stated in front of journalists that he knows exactly what needs to be done and dismissed media criticism as irrelevant. This is why he continues to act as he pleases, despite historical data and evidence identifying those responsible for past issues. When the need arose to punish officials accountable for imposing a £50,000 fine on Sri Lanka Rugby, the Chief Executive Officer linked to that administration was instead appointed as the Chairman of the National Sports Council. Despite not only us but even the government-affiliated Silumina newspaper highlighting the flaws in these appointments, the Minister remains unwavering in his decisions, without any hesitation.
He has failed to realize that the position of Chairman of the National Sports Council is not suitable for him and that appointing him as its Chief Executive at a time when Sri Lankan rugby is facing its most tragic moment in history is a matter of professional integrity. Not only Priyantha, but the majority of positions in the National Sports Council related to rugby should be filled by individuals who have played the sport with true dedication and embody the spirit of rugby, rather than by someone who merely played for personal enjoyment and has contributed to its downfall.
We have previously gathered from his own remarks the perspective that his advisors have instilled in him regarding the history, present state, and international standing of Sri Lankan rugby. One key reason for the lack of significant progress in rugby’s expansion is the decision to cover fines incurred during Priyantha Ekanayake’s tenure as Executive Director using international aid meant for rugby development. While the Minister initially attempted to express deep shock over this revelation, he has now fallen silent, as the relevant documents have surfaced clearly bearing Priyantha Ekanayake’s name. Moreover, former President Asanga Seneviratne, who had a lengthy discussion with David Carrigy agreeing to deduct that aid money from the funds allocated for Sri Lanka’s rugby development has now secured a position in the Asian Federation through his close ties with its president. Meanwhile, Carrigy, now a key official in the international federation, is working alongside Asia Rugby to exert pressure on Sri Lanka to amend its constitution.
Despite having all this evidence in hand, the Minister continues to speak about Asia and the international arena. Using the two-thirds state power his government holds, he is attempting to preserve control over Sri Lankan rugby in line with the interests of the very group that made an administrative decision compromising the country’s reputation—ultimately to position Namal Rajapaksa as an internationally successful leader.
The election is not being held to bring in a group that will resolve matters with the international community but rather to use the political power granted by the people to control Sri Lankan rugby according to the agenda of a certain unholy faction. The Director General of Sports, who appears to be at the forefront, is misleading the Minister by placing responsibilities on others without hesitation. However, behind the scenes, it is becoming increasingly clear that he is merely an obedient servant of the politician. While he may not seem like a politician due to how quickly he submits, ignoring the controversy surrounding him, the politician’s desire is clearly evident because the Minister sometimes shakes his tail even more than the person who is responsible.
When examining the committee appointed to manage the opportunity for a Sri Lankan rugby team, comprising players weighing less than 85 kilograms, to tour New Zealand until a Rugby Council is established, it is hard to believe that this decision was made solely with the blessing of the Director General of Sports. The Director General has stated that the decision by Minister Harin Fernando to dissolve the existing administration and appoint its chairman as a facilitator—on the grounds that it was not functioning in a timely manner—was not made in the interest of the Director General of Sports, but rather to serve the interests of the Minister and World Rugby. The current Minister is making the same mistake. When the person who was removed for failing to fulfill their responsibilities was given a position from a country without a proper rugby administration, the Asia Rugby President assigned him an Asian responsibility as part of his friendly alliance.
This individual has now been added to Asian Rugby, and he is also the secretary of the administration involved in the £50,000 incident.
In addition to Nalin, the appointment of Rohan Abeykoon as a member of the National Sports Council, as per the Sports Act, has also been challenged due to his involvement in sports-related business activities. However, with the Minister’s two-thirds power, he is ready to work even if it means giving power to the elite sports clubs that are enjoying the tax breaks from the Colombo 7 government. The identity of the vision that the minister is politically manifesting should be questioned by his own conscience.
Along with Nalin and Rohan, the other person given authority over the New Zealand operation is Inthishan Marikkar. Consulting the advisory council, which has a rugby majority, to seek advice and a proper understanding of how he was removed from rugby responsibilities is futile, as the minister remains unwavering in his decision to proceed despite the allegations against them.
To take history to the next level and take Sri Lanka Rugby back to the top, the Minister could work closely with the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, the Deputy Minister, to discuss reviving a club like Thalduwa, which has a golden memory in rugby history, because Eranga Gunasekara’s roots are strongly linked to the Avissawella area.
But now, there are efforts to block rugby from reaching Avissawella in the Colombo district. Rugby should not be introduced to Olcott College in Galle, where the Minister visited. As stated earlier, it is enough for the people of Thambuttegama to be entertained by those from the Rajapaksa and Malik Samarawickrama circles, while listening to rugby stories in restaurants owned by Colombo Rugby Clubs.
It would be enough if the elite class, seeking a change of life in places like the Ego Paradise near Kataragama—a beautiful tourist destination that is still inaccessible—were to inherit the joy and happiness of the seven sports clubs in Colombo, sharing that joy with the village people under this system. If the opportunity for village boys and girls to get involved in rugby by empowering play areas like rugby is not considered a criminal space, then what the Minister should do is enforce the law against those who have committed crimes against rugby. Informing the International Federation that the constitution will be drafted in consultation with the administration appointed in accordance with the existing constitution and clarifying the Ministry’s role as a facilitator in this process.
If there is no pride that can overcome the feeling that it is not the Minister’s role to implement an idea that did not initially arise regarding that situation, and was later received from elsewhere, then, due to this two-thirds power, the day will come when the rugby ball will be in the hands of the boys who actually play in the paddy fields, where the villagers view the game of rugby as magic, instead of being confined to the television screen.
Bodies accustomed to enduring the rubber ball that bends to their bodies will run and run with the rugby ball, jumping and running from the fields of the fields. Along with the golden memories of Sri Lankan rugby history, like Lindula and Uva, the genetic rugby ingrained within will be rediscovered in the bodies of people like Ambiga, who run gracefully from the heart of the village, beneath the tea bushes, bending their arms in motion.
Minister, do not let Colombo 7 block the way for village boys and girls to get closer to rugby. One of the reasons these sports clubs are famous is the large amounts of money they possess, the elite membership they hold, and the tax breaks they receive from the government. But look at women’s rugby for a moment. Players are emerging from underprivileged schools, from Colombo to Borella, Wanathamulla, and Seevali. People without money should not surrender two-thirds of a people’s mandate, which gave them meaning in life, to the illusion created by money. Rugby is the strength of the oppressed people to rise up.
It would be important to examine the story of the current world champion South African rugby team from its origins to the present. The birthplace of its excellence lies within South African politics. If you have a spare moment, show not only your rugby mentors but the entire National Sports Council the true story of how Nelson Mandela turned rugby into a passionate force for the people of the world, ultimately leading South Africa to win the rugby World Cup. Then, to some extent, one will feel the loss of Mandela’s hometown without ever going to South Africa.
At the end of the film, if the Minister of Culture, Comrade Hiniduma Sunil, or Comrade Chulananda Samaranayake, could be called to give a critical speech on the film, that would also be important.
*Adapted from original article, “ක්රීඩා ඇමතිගේ තුනෙන් දෙකේ බලය ගැන කතාවෙන් A ක්රීඩා සමාජත් කණස්සල්ලට” by Nishman Ranasinghe published on 09/03/2025.
