Last Sunday, The Sunday Morning Sports reported several allegations aimed at the President of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees Dinka Pieris. He has now come forth to refute all allegations regarding the fund transfers and believes these crude attempts tarnish his image just before the upcoming AGM.
The allegations were regarding the transfer of a fixed deposit from HNB Bank to Pan Asia Bank without the consultation of the general members and without adhering to a proper quotation process. However, as stated by Pieris: “On 29 October 2023, the General Committee meeting was held. The suggestion to change banks which came from Vimal Perera was tabled, and the Committee unanimously accepted it and approved Treasurer Madhawa Wijesiri to check out for best interest rates from three banks and to table at the next committee meeting. The decision was to keep Rs. 1 million at HNB and move Rs. 10 million to the bank that may offer the best interest including HNB.”
His statement further added: “On 25 November 2023 the next committee meeting was held, where the Treasurer tabled the interest rates he had obtained for Rs. 10 million. He had obtained this two weeks prior to the committee meeting and it was HNB 21%, Pan Asia 23.25%, and NDB 23.25%. The Committee unanimously approved Pan Asia bank as it was the first to offer and further the person who offered at NDB, was a current match official and he had left the bank at the time we had the committee meeting on 25 November 2023. On 3 December 2022 we opened the Rs. 10 million FD at Pan Asia bank in keeping with the decision taken at the General Committee meeting.”
He further stated that on 14 January 2023 the AGM for the year 2023 was held and under accounts the Treasurer Madhawa Wijesiri tabled the audited accounts for the year 2021- 2022 (1 November to 31 October) and mentioned above transaction based on the suggestion made by Vimal Perera on 18 September 2022 at the General Discussion meeting. At that AGM, when this was announced no one made any comment, but appreciated the action taken by the General Committee.
The FD of Rs. 10 million at Pan Asia matured on 3 December 2023. The Treasurer notified the members on 7 November 2023 regarding the maturity at the committee meeting and the Committee had requested the Treasurer to check for best interest rates from other banks including Pan Asia. On 12 November 2023, at another general meeting, Vimal Perera suggested that the General Committee must check Treasury bills as well. On 4 December 2023, the Treasurer tabled rates obtained by banks and the best they found was from NDB. The General Committee has then decided to move Rs. 10 million from Pan Asia to NDB. As of now, the SLSRFR has Rs. 1 million FD and Rs. 10 million at NDB together with the long-standing Rs. 1 million at HNB.
Peiris also emphasised that the need of having an SGM to get approval from general membership is only valid for expenses, but this transaction was merely an investment.
He further emphasised that no one in the General Committee believed it to be a conflict of interest to have these funds transferred to Pan Asia Bank, despite his wife being an employee.