I have to live with myself and so
I want to be fit for myself to know,
I must be able as the days go by,
To look at myself straight in the eye.
I don’t want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I have done.

I read the above by Edgar A. Guest reproduced in the book “In the Line of Duty “written by Dr. Gamini Goonetilleke. Ven. Professor Bellanwilla Wimalaratne Thero Chancellor, Sri Jayewardene University Sri Lanka says about the book as follows.

“Written in simple language and lucid style, the book is a dynamic presentation of an illustrious career in serving mankind with dedication and strong motivation. It is the comprehensive account of the sportsman, the healer, the surgeon, the humanist, the fighter for rights and justice, and the critic”.
The mention of the sportsman while writing about the eminent surgeon and his pursuits in sports was why I thought I will start my talk this week, refereeing this book. Gamini spent time taking part in sports and represented the University in Cricket, Soccer, Hockey and Rugby.

Gamini had a love for rugby and I had the opportunity to pass the oval ball as he played for his school. He Captained the University and Combined University rugby team. It was rugby that brought more fame for him and he played for the CH and FC before he entered Medical College.

He continued to play the game while being an intern and turned up for the CH and was appointed the captain of the second team “Kabaragoyas”. Gamini narrates in his book an incident which he regrets now. Leading the CH ‘B’ team to being unbeaten till the last match they were eager to win the final game. While his team was initially leading the game changed dramatically due to an unfortunate incident… as the skipper recalls. He being the scrum half was pulled up for not putting the ball into the scrum in the correct manner. He thought he was doing the right thing while the referee thought otherwise. Losing his cool he protested in an unusual manner by performing a “Satyagraha” on the field. The referee asked him to leave the field and the game continued. The team was demoralized though game continued. The team lost this match.

This incident is recorded in the first chapter: The early years. This probably was an incident that made him get to do what is needed as the action must befit the outcome. It was not so and resulted in losing a match that needed to be won. In hindsight, what is to be done in the line of duty is to get the best for those whom you serve.

In the game of rugby as it is what is in the line of duty it does not seem to be what is best for the game but what is best for you and the many that you adulate. We have in the past had so many things said and publicized about the game and specially made statements how bad the game was managed. Particularly statements made to indicate financial irregularity.

Yet when the accounts have been audited by the Auditor General and there seem to be no major strictures there is no mention made. The AG has certified the accounts dated 8th July and the Union has forwarded same to the Ministry on the 02 of October 2009. The opinion expressed in the course of audit is that as far as it appears from examination, the SLRFU has maintained proper accounts except for the opinion expressed under clause 2.2 o f the report. These include non disclosure of accounting policies and an amount of Rs 41,109 was shown as expenses over what has been shown in the ledger. This has been explained as an amount where a journal entry has not been passed due to an oversight.

Further they talk about the non availability of an agreement with the IRB on the funds and non availability the lack of fixed assets register and not conducting a physical verification are issue that are pointed out . They talk of lack of budgets and detail schedule of expenditure. They also have noted the absence of performance reports on the development salaries.

As an issue of contention they have noted that Rs 47 million was made available for rugby development of which Rs 40 million is has been in a fixed deposit. And an overdraft of 15 million obtained against the deposit. The issue is that the funds for development have not been used and the purpose of obtaining the funds is not clear.

I understand the overdraft had been used for funding expenditure on development and the national team. The funds which were to be used for a SLRFU secretariat did not get off the ground as there were indications that the ministry will have one secretariat building for all sports. Reading through one finds that there has been an excess of expenditure over income of Rs 7.5 million thus the possibility is that the overdraft was used to fund such expenditure.

All in all there is no indication of serious financial mismanagement and only certain management issues that are not as bad as some tried to show the public with various statements issued in the past. Well this is what everybody does as and when they take office. Blaming the previous managers and think that it is in the: “ The Line of Duty”.

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