Sri Lanka Rugby crisis continues
The Colombo District Court issued an injunction order preventing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) from taking place on January 21, after former President and national player Lasitha Gunaratne filed a case against the rejection of his nomination for the top position.
Colombo District Magistrate Sandun Vithana issued the injunction order following Gunaratne’s petition challenging the rejection of his nomination for the position of SLR President by the five-member Election Committee appointed by the SLR Competent Authority. The Magistrate further ordered the respondents to gather a report before January 30 by issuing summons or by newspaper advertisements.
The five-member Election Committee, appointed by the SLR Competent Authority, Shemal Fernando, the Director General of the Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports, had rejected Gunaratne’s nomination after it was found that the member union that nominated had failed to pay its annual membership fee to SLR.
Attorneys at-Law Sanjaya Fonseka, Sajana de Zoysa and Pasindu Bandara with President Counsel Kuvera de Zoysa who appeared on behalf of the petitioner explained that the rejection of Gunaratne’s nomination is against the Constitution of SLR. They argued that Gunaratne, who held the SLR President’s position from 2018 to 2020, fulfils the eligibility to contest for the position while explaining that the Election Committee had rejected the nomination based on the failure to pay the annual membership fee of SLR.
PC Kuvera de Zoysa further pointed out that the SLR constitution does not state the failure to pay its annual membership fees as an ineligibility to bar a member from forwarding a nomination, while requesting the court to issue an injunction order from holding the SLR election without Gunaratne’s nomination.
However, the Director General of Department of Sports Development, Shemal Fernando, also the Competent Authority of SLR, issued an official letter of January 18 addressing to all stakeholders of SLR of the postponement of the SLR AGM, also copied to six entities including World Rugby. The letter points out that complaints have been submitted to the Ministry of Sports, as well as the President of Asia Rugby on January 8.
“Following written complaints, including a letter to the President of Asia Rugby concerning SLR elections at the AGM, and implementing of the amended Constitution of SLR, a committee has been appointed by the Hon. Minister to immediately investigate these matters,” the letter stated.
“Based on the findings of the committee, appropriate measures will be taken in consultation with the Hon. Attorney General of Sri Lanka, the President of World Rugby, the President of Asia Rugby, and all relevant stakeholders of SLR,” the letter further stated.
It further explains that the pertaining actions will align with the provisions of the Sports Act No.25 of 1973, its subsequent amendments, and related regulations, ensuring the best interests of SLR are upheld. The letter has been copied to the Minister, Deputy Minister and Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, the Attorney General, and the President and Secretary of World Rugby.