• Science express remorse but wants probe 

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) has summoned all relevant parties engaged in the fracas which occurred towards the end of the Schools League match between Science and S. Thomas’ last Sunday (30 June), for a crucial discussion at Asoka Vidyalaya towards its swift resolution, this morning (3).

This was confirmed to The Daily Morning Sports, yesterday (2) by the Head of the SLSRFA and principal of Dharmaraja College, Kandy Kamal Ariyasingha.

The post-match brawl which took place at Air Force grounds, Ratmalana which arose over a disallowed try resulted in injuries being suffered by match officials including referee Ishanka Abeykoon and assistant referee Jeewaka Fonseka.

Both of the above-named match officials were thus forced to seek treatment at the Kalubowila Hospital as the hotly-contested Mount Lavinia derby clinched at the death by the Thomians 30-26, flared up in tension.

Referees Union decisions

Ariyasingha said that he was aware of certain critical decisions taken by the Referees Society such as abstention from officiating in games involving Science College for precisely one year.

Social media was rife with speculation  that the Referees Union had also opted to refrain from doing likewise at the said venue until such time the security of its officials are guaranteed to their satisfaction.  

They have also called for the suspension of the outside centre of Science by the judicial officer for a minimum of one year with effect from the date of inquiry after he was shown the red card for continuous arguing with ref Abeykoon over the disallowed try. 

The Referees Union had also reached a decision to officiate the Schools League sans Science taking part in any segment with effect from next Monday (15).

The schools rugby boss though asserted that if such decisions had been taken and finalised by the Referees Union in the aftermath of last Sunday’s melee at Ratmalana, his Association would urgently reassess the situation and take a call accordingly.

He added that as the controlling body for the sport they were not prepared to jettison majority of schools over an isolated incident of which he insisted the authorities were yet to figure out who had instigated it in the first place.

Provincial or foreign refs

According to the SLSRFA Head, if the Referees Union were to boycott matches involving Science College, they will be looking to run the tournament with the assistance of provincial referees.

He said another possibility that they will explore is hiring of foreign referees via the sponsorship kitty provided by the flagship sponsor of the Schools League and he averred that under no circumstance they will allow the tournament to derail midway through.

Science image tainted by outside party

Meanwhile, the Deputy Principal of Science College, Suminda Karunarathna when contacted expressed his school’s profound apology over the assault of match officials during the match in question.

He said that an internal probe was already underway to identify those behind the ugly fracas at Ratmalana but, maintained that critics of his team should not be hasty to point the finger at his school over the mayhem.

He added that even an outside party with the intention of tarnishing the image of his school may have instigated the brawl and stressed that it was important to get to the bottom of the issue and take hard decisions to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Asked whether his school was aware of certain decisions taken by the Referees Union such as boycotting games involving Science in future, Karunaratna remarked that he was aware of some rumours circulating to that effect.

But, he noted that the Referees Union as an independent entity was within their right to take whatever decision they deem apt. 

However he also argued whether it was justified in punishing an entire school team over an incident of this scale with the country yet to figure out those behind the free-for-all.

The Deputy Principal opined that Science were willing to abide by the final decisions which are taken by the SLSRFA as the game’s final arbiter.