Basnayake ousts Dole as CP rugby chief
View(s):Former Trinity, Kandy and Sri Lanka rugby skipper and a double international (rugby and basketball) Pradeep Basnayake, deputy general manager of Kanrich Finance, has been elected as the new president of the Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) at the annual general meeting held yesterday. He ousted long-standing CPRFU president Tuan Dole after being nominated for the position by Dimbulla Athletic and Cricket Club and Darrawela Club.
With Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) elections looming, this is seen as a major shift in the power base in the central hills. Significantly SLR president Lasitha Gunaratne was also present at the AGM.
“We were surprised to see him,” said Kavinda Jayasena, a former Kandy SC, Havelocks and Sri Lanka player, who was re-elected secretary of the CPRFU. Manjula Samarakoon, CEO of Dimbulla Plantations, is the vice president and M.R. Rifas, a manager at Commercial Bank, is the treasurer.
“Our aim is to give voting rights to clubs other than the four founder clubs such as Kandy SC, Dimbulla, Dickoya and Peradeniya University. There are many clubs such as Old Antonians, Old Rajans, Old Trinitians who came out in force to back Basnayake,” said Jayasena.