Kandy player battles to stave off ban | Sunday Observer

Kandy player battles to stave off ban

14 October, 2018
Jason Dissanayake
Jason Dissanayake

Sevens player Jason Dissanayake has conveyed to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) that he was made to understand that his request to keep away from the team for the first Leg of the Asian Sevens last month was accepted as he did not receive any further clarification from the correspondence between him and the manager Rohan Chintaka.

Sri Lanka Rugby has threatened to impose a ban on Dissanayake after the player was found to have skipped selection for the first Leg of the Asian Sevens citing a family commitment and instead took part in a private tournament in Dubai with his Kandy Sports Club.

But Dissanayake has in a letter to Sri Lanka Rugby said that after he conveyed to manager Chintaka the reason for his non-availability for the first Leg of the Asian Sevens, he did not receive any reply and assumed that the matter had been resolved. “Since I was not informed of any non- acceptance of my email (requesting for leave) from SLR, I honestly believed that I have been excused by SLR”, Dissanayake has conveyed to Sri Lanka Rugby which directed him to submit a “show cause” letter ahead of a possible ban.

Dissanayake has also claimed in his letter to Sri Lanka Rugby that he decided to play in the private tournament in Dubai from September 7 to 10 with his Kandy Sports Club as the dates did not coincide with his “family commitment”. The first Leg of the Asian Sevens took place in Hong Kong on September 14 and 15.

“I was requested by my club, Kandy Sports Club to join for a tournament scheduled to be held in Dubai which did not clash with the said family commitment. I informed them that I will not be able to join them due to the family commitment mentioned above. KSC management inquired about my family commitment and when the same was disclosed to them, they informed me that the Dubai tournament is scheduled from 7th to 10th September and assured me that I will be able to attend the family commitment without fail. Accordingly I joined them for the said tournament”, Dissanayake further stated in his “show cause” letter.

Dissanayake has also said that he knew that he would not be considered for selection for the second Leg of the Asian Sevens (on September 29 and 30) after he presented himself for national team practices while responding to team manager Chintaka’s consent to restart training on September 20.

“When I attended practices on 20th September 2018 I was informed by the national Seven’s coach that I will not be considered for selection since I am allegedly in violation of the SLR regulations by attending the Dubai tournament.

“I respectfully submit Sir, that I have not violated any provision of the SLR Constitution and acted honestly at all times. I submit that I have not failed in my national duty. As you are well aware Sir, I have at all times performed my national duty for Sri Lanka Rugby, from the time I was a schoolboy, for six years now and I have not failed in my national duty in a single instance in the past six years”, Dissanayake further stated. 

Comments

Good on him, but I am more wondering who is violating his privacy by publishing a private letter.

Pages