The good news, if you could say so, is that the copy of the amended constitution has been forwarded to the Provincial Unions by the SLRFU. The ball is now in the court of the constituent bodies to accept the amendments and pave way the for the Annual General Meeting to be held. Already there have been rumblings that there have been changes to what was agreed upon when they met at the last SGM to approve amendments. It looks like the Foxy Interim committee has delivered a ball that has to be played with care. Foxy, I say, as this interim committee which loves to quote the Sports Law at every moment to suit them may not find a clause that allows an interim to present a new constitution.
If there are issues that will create disagreement and thus the amendments are not passed then what could I / we do? It is a chicken and egg situation where the amended constitution has to be passed at the SGM for the AGM to be held. Else may be it may be postponed for another day and take your chances with the IRB who may buy or not buy the reasons to go beyond the deadline they have given. An AGM though can be held under the old constitution. Yet a mended constitution will at least give cover to why they stayed on.
A good thing I see is more being written about player transfer, registration and player contract enforcement.
One issue that will probably see difference is on representation and voting. The amended constitution is for the council to consist of the four Office bearers, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and the other members of the council to be as follows. Seven members elected at the AGM from Nominations received from the Provincial Unions. It also includes One member each from; A Division Clubs, One from Upcountry and One from Defense Services, One member each from Provincial Unions.
On a quick read through there seems to be no major issues for debate though what is not clear is clause VIII 4 a1 which reads: “Selected members with a vote nominated at t he AGM”. In this case the criteria or the numbers are not clear.The Referees Society, The Universities and the Schools are in the council as observers. Other than the Treasurer all others need to have taken part in a major “A” Division Tournament defined as an Inter club “A” division tournament conducted by the SLRFU and the Clifford Cup. This applies to those who will serve as observers as well thus bringing pressure to find suitable nomination from the schools, Universities and some Provincial Unions. The major issue as I see it is to lose the thread that has been with a vital arm of the game: the schools. On the long run the link with the referee’s society seemed to be shaky as the world over referees are considered another path of the game with less ex players taking to the whistle. Take the IRB panel and one will see young referees who may have not played very much of the game at the top level. At this stage the representation will be somebody who has played and not somebody who has a link with the laws of the game.
The schools on the other hand provide the most vital input and have the ability to draw crowds. The future of the game is with the schools promoting the game. If the President is not to be with the SLRFU council then it has to be somebody else who will have to communicate from here to there and a break down in communication can have a serious effect. On the issue of voting at the SGM you are asking them to approve a constitution which is downgrading their present position. History will show that such break in links did virtually make them go on their own and has produced not too good results for the game. At the moment those who have the future of the game at heart and hope to be in office must concentrate on having an elected body to have such issues give an opportunity for issues to help continue the interim way.
Yet again this may not be great issues as the amended constitution clause VII 3 b includes a section of the Sports Law 25 0f 1973 as follows. “ No person shall be nominated for election as an Office Bearer or Committee Member in a National Association other than as a Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer unless he has participated in the sport promoted by that association or has played in a major tournament , meet or competition registered conducted or approved by that association .”
This clause is further qualified by the SLRFU in defining what a major tournament is in the amended constitution. I believe there is ground for interpretation as the Sports Law has been included and it reads “participated ….. or has played in major tournament.
Subject to legal interpretation all those you intend to keep out for a personal reason may find that this is always a possibility. The schools who are mere observers in the council have a vote at the SGM.
While there are other areas where there seem to be inconsistency and whether the interim can bring forward constitutional amendments should be put aside and the AGM held and one irritation put aside.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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