Rugby stalwarts at NSC face test within fraternity over ethics
The recent appointment of the National Sports Council (NSC), under the new Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, has been questioned by certain groups over the choice of a few individuals. One of the main concerns have been raised by a certain quarter of the local rugby fraternity after the appointment of Priyantha Ekanayake as the Chairman of the NS.
Ekanayake, a celebrated rugby player during his heydays, had earned a reputation as a Sri Lanka icon, who put the country on the global map with his accolades on the field. While representing his clubs, CR&FC and Kandy SC, Ekanayake went on to represent Sri Lanka as a lock and No.8, earning legendary status.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage in discussion with his NSC. Priyantha Ekanayake (3rd from left) and Rohan Abeykoon (2nd from right) are seated with other NSC members
However, his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) began in 2016 under questionable circumstances as Sri Lanka was already serving a hefty fine of Sterling Pounds 50,000 for the offence of fielding three ineligible foreign players. Ekanayake’s term as CEO kicked off when SLRFU was already under a huge debt of Rs. 35 million in addition to the fine.
It was unearthed that the then local rugby authorities had produced false documents to register the said three Fiji players, which resulted in Sri Lanka’s grants was deducted by International Rugby Board meant for development programmes, to recover the fine.
Reports say that Ekanayake, as the CEO, was tasked to produce an entreaty to IRB in order to get the fine revoked, but instead had totally dodged from negotiating with the global body. With no individual who held office at SLRFU holding responsible for the calamity, Sri Lanka eventually had to fully pay the fine through IRB grants. In addition Rohan Abeykoon, another rugby stalwart, is identified as an entrepreneur who imports and deals with sports gears and goods, which contradicts the morals of being an independent member of the NSC.
“Both these gentlemen have created a name for themselves as former players and are well respected among the rugby circle. However these are few minor restraints they should voluntarily clear their names from, and return clean,” a senior figure in local rugby, and a former national player, noted.
Under Ekanayake, as Chairman, Abeykoon, Prof. Samantha Nanayakkara (Professor of Sports Studies at University of Colombo), Rukman Wekadapola (Advisor to International Boxing Association and experienced boxing referee), Sidath Wettimuny (former Sri Lanka cricketer), Chanaka Jayamaha (Supreme Court lawyer, Independent Director at Colombo Dockyard), Niroshan Wijekoon (Olympic badminton player, former national badminton coach), Murad Ismail (Former table tennis and golf federation official), Roshan Mahanama (former Sri Lanka cricketer and ICC match referee), C. Ratnamudali (Senior lecturer, University of Moratuwa, expertise in sports regulations), Sriyani Kulawansa (Olympic hurdler, Commonwealth Games silver medalist), Malik J. Fernando (Co-Chairman, Dilmah) and Shanitha Fernando (former rugby player and past vice president, CR&FC) form the NSC.
However, the NSC at present mostly functions as an advisory board to the Sports Minister, in exception to the one that former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena served as Chairman in 2020. Under Jayawardena, a dynamic team introduced a long term plan to offer monthly and annual grants to potential medal winning athletes, after categorising them in accordance to their status locally and globally, with the aim of nurturing them to win international medals while creating a sporting culture. The plan never took off in style, but failed to sustain after the change of the then Sports Minister, as the NSC mechanically gets dissolved with the change of the minister.