Was SLR representative turned back from Asian AGM?
In a bizarre incident, Sri Lanka risked tarnishing its reputation as the oldest Rugby Union in Asia, after a representative from Sri Lanka Rugby was ‘graciously turned down’ from attending the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Asia Rugby (AR), held on November 8 in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to insiders, Sri Lanka’s representation at the AGM left it looking like a laughing stock in front of other country representatives from the Asian region, who had gathered to elect a new set of office bearers for AR. It is reliably learned that the former President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), Nalin de Silva, who replaced Rizly Illyas after the latter was forced to step down, had nominated himself as Sri Lanka’s representative for the AGM.
After AR forwarded the invitation to Sri Lanka, addressed to Nalin de Silva, the Director General of Sport, who had been appointed as the Competent Authority of SLR through a special gazette notification by former Sports Minister Harin Fernando in May this year, became aware of the development and sought clarification.
According to sources, the Director General of Sport reminded de Silva that he could not represent SLR, despite his temporary appointment as Rugby Facilitator to the Director General of Sports and the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports, following the suspension of the rugby administration due to its failure to hold the AGM before the May 31 deadline.
The Director General of Sport had made himself available as Competent Authority of SLR, and had travelled to Bangkok to attend the Asia Rugby AGM last weekend. However, sources said, the Competent Authority’s visit to Bangkok had just been a failed mission, as the SLR vote had been approved to another nominee other than the individual who presented himself in flesh at the AR AGM.
Experts question on how de Silva’s name was presented to AR as the SLR representative, and how the Director General, as Competent Authority attained authority to represent SLR himself as the representative, when both instances were totally against the norms. In addition, they question the manner SLR is being operated presently, contributed mainly by two individuals sans even native intelligence.
If this incident is proven to be non-speculative, experts are also questioning whether the Competent Authority had received approval from the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports to travel abroad and represent the country at the AGM of a regional sports governing body. Additionally, they are raising concerns about how travel and related expenses were covered.
The Sunday Times’ attempts to gather clarification from both Mr. de Silva and Prof. Shemal Fernando, in his capacity as Competent Authority, were unsuccessful. The Secretary to the Ministry of Sports was also unavailable for comment or clarification. However, AR sources have confirmed the incident, though the details of the story have not been officially confirmed or denied by either of the two individuals involved.
Quais Al Dhalai, the incumbent President of AR from the UAE, was re-elected for a second successive term at the Asia Rugby AGM, held at the Asawin Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok. Sri Lanka was a notable absentee, as no nominations were forwarded for any positions or committees of AR this year.
After failing to conduct its elections or AGM by May 31, the cutoff date set by the Ministry of Sports for all sports bodies in Sri Lanka, SLR, along with the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports Federation, and the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka, was suspended and placed under the Director General of Sport as Competent Authority until the conduct of their respective elections.