On Good Friday I was in Church and after service while returning I reflected on what Christ said as he lay between two thieves crucified to the cross. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." I thought of what the priest said.” Not a twinge of bitterness, but only love and forgiveness were in his heart toward those who had put him there.

I wonder whether it will be that possible to forgive and love those who are taking the game of rugby down what seem to be a no return or will need a grueling trek to come back. You will have to read the myths more carefully to find any illumination to what is happening to rugby. It was hard to believe that the strongest province of rugby in Sri Lanka failed to give nominations on time. It is more difficult to accept that the much awaited AGM came a cropper as there was no quorum. It was similar when the Special General Meeting was called for to approve the new constitution. It was held later as constituents were lifted with the hope of making a stop to the interim and an elected body put in place. There was hope that the IRB will continue to keeps us within their fold.

The expectation that the AGM will see an elected body in place was like taking grandma, with a touch of Alzheimer's disease, to shop. She forgets some, remembers some, repeat things while failing to remember why she came. Yet it is your grandma and therefore you would tolerate the natural cranky disposition at her age. Because you love her any way while remembering the good times you shared with her. Look at the Annual General Meeting which was to have in place an elected body. People who were to be there were those who love the game. So it should have been. Yet they were not there. Just to say that Provinces were not there and to adduce infer that they are irresponsible will not help the game and or the future. There is a need to look into this and what is causing the apathy? Maybe they don’t like the interim and treat them like cuckoos while looking as though they were meeting convicts.

What happened to the much touted AGM of Sri Lankan Rugby? Since the meeting of the WP was held there was an issue about not taking a secret ballot. The objective of having an elected body took a back seat. What prompted this movement is yet unknown. Was it school, club, friendship or pressure? Even time may not have an answer to the question though this is not something that needs a rocket scientist to make sense of.

We learnt of a letter sent by Kandy Sports Club that the Central Province Rugby Football Union have not held their Annual General Meeting before the 31st of March. The fact that a letter was sent and Kandy SC did not attend any meeting was confirmed by its Secretary. He also confirmed that letters sent addressed to the President CPRFU were returned to the sender. There is speculation that Wayamba has had not had an Annual General meeting for some time.

Thus there are new areas of concern that are being raised that give a lead possibly to more objections. Will it mean that all nominations are not valid?The IRB as I understand needs an elected body and it is not rosy as people claim. The Interim committee will have to send an application requesting an extension and it will be considered. It is not that they have bought the rope, hook line and sinker. They have talked to the constituent bodies and are getting their version before a decision is recommended. As one stalwart lamented what is important now is a solution to the bigger picture not the small dots that align the path.

Yet I am surprised that there is little opinion expressed and or written by many who have worked for the game in the past. We are no doubt a passive society that expects others to do your job. The coming weeks will be crucial as we also have the schools league to be worked out starting in the third week of April and the Club tournament will start in May. In the second week Sri Lanka will travel to Singapore to play in the Asian 5 Nations Division One. With little organization will this turnout to be another trip??

On Sunday I received a text message from the President of the CR and FC Mr. Jehan Cangeratne which read as: “A letter confirming Asanga Seneviratne played A Division rugby has been with our security since 20th (Sat) and no one has picked it up.” Jehan on inquiry said that he sent same in relation to a paragraph in my column which read: “The delay was apparently in the time taken to pick up a certificate to confirm playing experience. If the letter was for a particular individual then what should have happened is to have handed over nominations without that letter without jeopardizing all.”

Thus the Mystery of Nominations deepens as Sri Lanka rugby is at a crucial cross road. Which brings to my a mind a statement: “If you don’t know where you are going then any road is good enough”
* Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees
Evaluator IRB

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