Citing enough is enough of the political bungling that is pushing the sport to the brink of disaster, scores of leading rugby players in the country have submitted a head-turning petition to Sports Minister Sunil Gamage warning him to avoid further screw-ups of its administration as World Rugby and Asia Rugby have threatened them with a ban.
The players have conveyed to Minister Gamage that they are well aware that “unqualified” people are being allowed to contest an impending election of office bearers to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) without establishing a new Constitution that could further earn the wrath of Asia Rugby and World Rugby.
The election of office-bearers was set for January 21 but was called off after a member of one faction jostling for position at SLR successfully sought a court ruling for a suspension of the vote.
“We, the undersigned are professional rugby players in Sri Lanka who are currently playing at a professional level and we write this letter on behalf of all the professional rugby players and thousands of school rugby players and millions of supporters who are passionate about the game of rugby in Sri Lanka.
“We are aware that Asia Rugby has already written a letter to you dated 08th January 2025 setting out that previously World Rugby lifted the suspension subject to conditions including holding the election under an amended and/or new constitution which recognizes the voting rights of the active clubs.
“However, Asia Rugby and World Rugby has raised their serious concerns that the upcoming Annual General Meeting will be held under the old constitution which again will result in certain provincial unions and clubs excluded or will not have the representation as agreed by the Constitutional review group.
“We are aware that Asia Rugby has also raised their concern over “unqualified” people being allowed to contest in the upcoming election”, the players have stated in their warning to the Minister that has been copied to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
