A set of influential former rugby players who have represented the country are planning to make submissions to both President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya shortly.

This is in a bid to draw the duo’s attention in order to prevent Sri Lanka from being suspended as a member union by World Rugby (WR), The Sunday Morning Sports learns.

A former player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that if the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) was held according to the provisions of its old Constitution, it would run a serious risk of inviting a ban from the sport’s global ruling body.

The SLR AGM is scheduled to be held on 21 January 2025 at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Ministry of Sports.

The former player, who has excelled as a player, match official, and past administrator, said that WR had clearly spelt out to SLR that its new election of office bearers would need to be held after having amended its old Constitution.

The old Constitution of the game’s local ruling body prevents ‘A’ Division clubs from exercising their vote at elections.

At the same time, it grants such rights to provincial unions, some of which are currently defunct and are known to be mere paper clubs installed to carry out the agendas of disgruntled former officials, according to informed sources.

“We are planning to meet both the President and the Prime Minister shortly,” the former player said, adding: “We decided to do this for the sake of the game and its players in this country. 

“We can ill afford another suspension from WR. Both the President and the Prime Minister have to be briefed on the threat that Sri Lanka faces from the world body if the next AGM is held based on the old Constitution.”

The WR deadline for SLR to amend its Constitution and hold its election of office bearers is due to expire on 31 January 2025.

Efforts made to contact Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage in this regard proved unsuccessful.