• Says Lanka had dallied with a two-year ban 

A former distinguished Sri Lanka rugby player, said that the indefinite postponement of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) on Tuesday (21), will pave the way for the national team to compete in international rugby competitions, without outside interference.

The ex-star, an outspoken critic of the game here, but who did not wish to be named, said that saner counsel had prevailed finally among Sports Ministry officials, who had opted to defer the election, at the eleventh hour.

He noted that had SLR held the AGM, without amending its constitution, as sought by World Rugby (WR) in conjunction with Asia Rugby (AR), Sri Lanka would have probably stared at a two-year isolation from all international competitions.

He opined that in such a scenario, the country’s national 15-a-side and Sevens teams, would have stagnated ‘big time’, being unable to compete in both regional and global events.

He observed the game would have suffered a massive setback had that been the case.

Asked what immediate ramifications will be in the offing for rugby, over the indefinite postponement of the AGM, the former player who excelled as a three-quarter at both school, club and national level, remarked that at best, it will not endanger the sport.

He was of the view that the Sports Ministry officials will probably seek more time from World Rugby – the game’s global governing body, to incorporate amendments to the constitution of SLR and then hold a fresh election.

“I think it will take a fair amount of time for these amendments to be added,” he said.

“This is because the Sports Ministry DG, has mentioned that consultations will be had with the Attorney General (AG), the President of WR, the President of AR and relevant stakeholders and this cannot be done overnight. Hence, I presume, it will take its time, when the next AGM could be facilitated.”

He added that from information available to him, WR will presumably extend the 31 January deadline for SLR, to amend its constitution and stage the new election.

Sri Lanka’s next international assignment in fifteens rugby, is their Asia Division 1 clash against Malaysia, which is tentatively fixed for April with the venue yet to be decided by Asia Rugby.

The islanders had won the Asia Rugby Division 1 tournament against the likes of India, Kazakhstan and Qatar in Colombo last May.

It has provided them an opportunity to qualify for the Asia Ruby Top Four, having overcome Malaysia this year and the winner of this group is set to gain a berth to the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

Lasitha gets injunction on AGM

Meanwhile, the Colombo District Court has imposed a restraining order on 16 January, on the conduct of the SLR Annual General Meeting, having considered a petition filed by former SLR President Lasitha Gunaratna.

The order, valid till 30 January, has been issued by Colombo District Court Judge Sadun Vithana and he has instructed the respondents to file objections if any, on the said date.

The head of the Election Committee, its members and the Sports Ministry Director General, have been named as the respondents in the petition, filed by the ex-Sri Lanka back-row forward.

Gunaratne has claimed that his nomination to contest the SLR AGM on 21 January, had been dismissed without a valid reason.

Hence, he has prayed the Court to issue a restraining order on the conduct of the election till his petition is heard and a suitable order is issued.