It has been a common belief among Sri Lanka that “Devil Dancing “helps to cure certain ailments caused by unseen hands that need to be chased away. People believe that when unseen hands are seen to harass the answer is a ‘Thovil Ceremony.’ This can be a simple ritualistic ceremony to appease the deities and cure the sick. As people believed and or were made to believe rugby in Sri Lanka has been affected by seen and or unseen hands.

Finally the result as expected was the formation of an interim committee.One may have expected the new interim committee to take the chair performing the rituals expected to chase the bad spirits away. On the other hand the expectation as is common would have been for Doc Maiya and Kiran to enter with much fan fare lighting the traditional oil lamp and to make speeches amidst the din of fire crackers.

They have taken office quietly and are getting on with a job that is not going to be easy. What is important is to get on with the job and not to keep finding fault of what has happened.

For a starter dousing the flame of hatred and ill will that has to be addressed. These are more a result of personality clashes than of actions of the game. This cannot be sorted out in a day, a week or a month but over time. The greatest issue that will need to be tackled fast is to get sponsors on board and secure finances .At a time when most business are in mood to cut down expenses the first cut will be expenses on promotions and sponsorship of events. As I understand sponsors have already indicated of their inability to continue with current arrangements they have for school rugby. I believe some clubs are also feeling the pinch. In this scenario it is not far before the Union too is informed of cuts in sponsoring tournaments and national events. To add to the worry will be the shrinking of the Rupees equivalent of the IRB grant with the Sterling Pound giving fewer rupees. A virtual 50% drop in the exchange rate that was applicable last year.

Rugby is gradually running out of sponsors. (Pic. by Ranjith Perera)

Speaking to Doc this was considered as a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. Hopefully this will be sorted in a short time so that other long term and important short term events will be addressed.

The constitution which has virtually not met the expectations when it was drafted has to be looked into. One basic expectation was to spread the game. One may argue that it definitely has spread if you look at the numbers taking part in the game as mentioned in the IRB site. The question is whether that was all that was expected. How many clubs have come up in these provinces that can match the clubs that were there prior to the constitution being framed? Can there be a tournament in the provinces where we could find talent that are capable of playing at the national level. If a tournament was to be played in the Central Province can the players involved at A division club rugby find the opposition required for a game appealing to their skill level

.Similarly the Southern and Sabaragamuva can boast of the number of players they have supplied to the Clubs or Schools in the Western Province but yet unable to form teams that will play quality rugby. It is the same with other Provinces such as Uva North Central and North Western.

Yet by the sheer strength of numbers reported they have a greater say in the destiny of rugby and its management in Sri Lanka. That leads to the important question of the constitution amendment which will give a suitable weight age with regard to voting. This I believe is not something that may have been achieved under normal conditions. The same people who have the advantage would have been the same people who are affected. They would have been the same people who would have to vote. Thus it would have not happened. Now the opportunity knocks on the day. What is required is for a constitution to fit the game and its requirement as is today.

The next will be to decide on where we have to be and what we have to do to get there. If we want to be among the top in the five national then what is needed is the honing of skills to get there. This requires a long term plan. This makes me ask the question of what happened to the 10 year plan of the Balasuriya era. Then what about the true vision plan for rugby of the Ekanayake era which was an extension of the Balasuriya plan.

What happens is the lack of continuity as the interest is more on short term visibility than the long term need. Can there be anything in a constitution to ensure the continuance.

As said you got to decide where you want to be in Asia and when. Then you got to plan for it. That will not be skills development alone but making use of the IRB eligibility criteria. Most countries in Asia are doing so. Malaysia did so and won the last sevens played in Kandy. For a start shall we have foreigners taking part in the game? This will add glamour and if planned well will make us have players in the national team in three years. This will draw protests from some who may only think of themselves today and not of the game tomorrow.

= Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB