Rugby selectors given ultimatum by Sports Minister

By Harry Jayachandra

Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge has given the rugby selectors time until tomorrow for them to submit a fresh list including four of the five players that went to witness the Rugby World Cup in France. The fifth player Sean Wijesinghe is injured.

Reliable sources said that following an emergency meeting yesterday three names were nominated in case any of the selectors resign. Meanwhile Vice President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union and Chairman of the Sponsorship Committee Asanga Seneviratn speaking to The Sunday Times said; “What would people say if Sri Lanka went in to a prestigious cricket tournament without Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas and Mahela Jayawardene. Rugby wise it is the same situation here.”

President of the SLRFU Nimal Lewke said: “It would have been a crime to deprive these players of watching the World Cup. In addition they have attended more practices and their fitness is better than some of the players selected. This is the Asiad and we need to field our best team.”