January 25, 2025
The above is a letter received this year regarding a fine
imposed on Sri Lanka under International Rugby Union
Regulation 8.1(c) for several years now, which has not yet
been paid. The reason for imposing this fine is that under
Regulation 8.1(c), foreign players who do not meet the
qualifications required to be used by another country for
another country must be allowed to play for Sri Lanka.
The Director General of Sports, who managed the
administration of rugby, is fully aware of this matter. If this
is the government’s policy, it suggests that the government
can absolve itself of any wrongdoings highlighted during
election campaigns without investigation, as those too
would be considered unrelated to their tenure and the harm
caused to the country.
According to the Director General of Sports, the fine,
which has added a black mark to the country’s sports and
affected the development of rugby in the country, does not
concern him.
However, the impact of deducting the penalty for this
offence from the funds allocated for rugby development in
the country continues to be felt even today. The
accompanying photograph highlights the order issued on
January 1st of this year, directing the payment of £5,000
from the total fine of £50,000.
Due to the non-implementation of these penalties, both the
president and secretary of the administration at the time
who committed the offence are now involved in the Asia
Rugby Administration. Although the Sri Lanka Rugby
administration was dissolved at the last moment, the
current Director of Sports appointed the second individual
to lead that administration. He claims this decision was
made at the request of Harin Fernando and World Rugby.
Instead of obeying and fulfilling it as soon as he was told,
the Director General of Sports should have told the
Minister at that moment that it was inappropriate to
reinstate the president who was removed because the
Minister was not fulfilling his responsibilities properly.
But he did not say so, and the appointment made without
saying so would allow him to win a responsibility in Asia.
After that, the Director General of Sports, not
understanding the court’s decision, is trying to amend the
existing rugby constitution, claiming that Asia and World
influence is being exerted. Meanwhile, he is trying to
prepare a constitution that will pave the way for those who
find it difficult to gain power under the current constitution
to return to power, while stalling the elections that the court
has ordered to be held.
It is evident that Priyantha Ekanayake, an official who
frequently advises government politicians on managing the
sport and serves on the National Sports Council, is also
aware of this. Neither World Rugby nor Asia Rugby has
regulations specifying how elections must be conducted
according to a country’s rugby constitution. These
regulations have been violated in the issues highlighted in
this letter.
As a result, the fines are still being paid. Shouldn’t the
Sports Director General and Priyantha Ekanayake
highlight to the ministers and the newly appointed
Secretary that a grave injustice has been done to the
country’s sports by violating the regulations?
They should emphasize that those responsible must be held
accountable and point out that the group behind these
wrongdoings, whose actions were politically influenced to
appease certain individuals, can be clearly identified by
examining the relevant time period of that decision.
Also, if there is an election system that has harmed the
clubs playing in the ‘A’ devision in the World Rugby and
Asia, it should be clarified how the people who came from
those clubs created the problems that rugby is currently
facing. Even though Priyantha Ekanayake came from those
clubs, the Director General of Sports, who is a free and
independent person, should be able to understand that
without bias.
The simplest thing is to work under the pressures imposed
by the international community without regard to the
punishment of those who have violated international
regulations. The Minister of Sports has already practically
understood how to solve all of them and has achieved
success. When the law is lifted or sanctions are imposed
after taking advice from the Attorney General of that
country, it is impossible to influence Sri Lanka by using the
international community as a manipulating hand, and those
who have been punished or sanctioned under the law of
their own country are not held accountable by international
organizations.
The decision to amend the constitution should be
entrusted to the administration elected through a process
conducted in accordance with the current constitution.
Any potential injustices caused to the sports clubs in that
category can be evaluated by reviewing the clubs
represented by the officials who have held office thus far.
Allegations against these officials include imposing fines
on rugby, depleting the rugby account, and accumulating
a significant amount of debt. At least there is no morality
in bringing such people to office through their sports
clubs. The Minister must act prudently to safeguard sports
from those who, instead of offering genuine advice,
enable and support individuals who misuse their
influential social connections to act with impunity.
The only question that needs to be asked of everyone is:
Under what regulation does the international community
have the power to suggest that this should be the official
election system, regardless of the country’s sports policies
and other unique factors? Why don’t the officials and
consultants who encourage the government to work under
a different regulation be prosecuted for those who have
committed violations under the regulations? The
government’s misleading actions present us with the image
of someone giving a speech in the middle of a large
gathering, naked , but the question is why the government
cannot see this nakedness.
