The Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) will hold a Special General Meeting (SGM) on October 14 at the Havelock Sports Club according reliable rugby sources. The development was confirmed to be accurate according to notices sent to its 17 members who have been called for the SGM. Upon further investigation these 17 [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Rugby referees call for SGM amidst chaos and uncertainty

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The Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) will hold a Special General Meeting (SGM) on October 14 at the Havelock Sports Club according reliable rugby sources. The development was confirmed to be accurate according to notices sent to its 17 members who have been called for the SGM. Upon further investigation these 17 members have indirectly alleged on mismanagement of SLSRFR and also have forwarded a host of questions to be included into the agenda. According to rugby experts this is a serious indictment against a society and its members who have to be accepted as fair, just and equitable.

Meanwhile the Sunday Times understands that a committee headed by Anton Benedict was appointed by the Sri Lankan Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to advice on the management of SLSRFR. Benedict is a former President of SLRFU and is also a former referee.
According to SLRFU sources the committee also includes former SLSRFR head and current Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Referees Committee member Dilroy Fernando and senior referee and IRB Accredited Judicial Officer Aruna Jayasekera. S.W. Chang, another appointee had declined to serve on the committee.

Chang is a member of the assignment committee of SLSRFR under Orville Fernando while Metha Abeygunawardena functioned as its chairman. Sources allege that Abeygunawardena and Chang were inactive members and are equally responsible for the mismanagement of assignments done by its Fixtures Secretary Shamrath Fernando. It is reliably understood that Abeygunawardena has since resigned from the assignment committee as well as from the post of Vice President of SLSRFR.

Sources also reveal that SLRFU council members, at its last meeting, have expressed their concern on the upcoming club season which is scheduled to kick off in mid November. This had occurred after Chula Dharmadasa, the SLRFU representative in the SLSRFR informed that he will not attend any of its meetings as the referees’ chief was running his own show ably supported by two or three individuals. Dharmadasa had alleged that affairs are totally mismanaged by the SLSRFR.

Others were critical of appointments to the local legs of the Carlton Super Sevens where some referees appointed had not at least done a single schools Division I rugby match. Experts point out that the end result was the devaluation of the tournament by catering to satisfy numbers.

Members who have called for the SGM pointed out that the appointment of a committee to overlook the SLSRFR is ample proof of the need to correct things. A former stalwart of SLSRFR, who is also a senior referee and administrator, confirmed that all is not well and the appointments are made according to the fancy of certain individuals. He also said that two members are supposed to have resigned at this late stage but cannot be absolved of responsibility by deserting.

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