Rugby as many know is run by an Interim Committee appointed by Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge. One of the reasons the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Executive Committee was dissolved was because there were allegations of misappropriation of funds. That accusation was laid to rest this week when the Auditor General himself cleared the Executive Committee and the hierarchy of any mishandling of monies gained from sponsorships, tournaments etc.

Dr.Maiya Gunasekera

Informed sources also said that the Annual General Meeting scheduled for the second week of January has been postponed yet again. Chairman of the Interim Committee Dr. Maiya Gunasekera speaking to the Sunday Times said; “With the Presidential election coming up we had no option but to postpone the Annual General Meeting to the last week of February. I know we have the Asian Division Championship in April, but the selectors are an independent body and they can select the squad well in time. This week we will also get the amended constitution from the Attorney General. We will have a special General Meeting. And once the new administration takes over, players will be contracted. Thus they will not be able to pull out of the National team according to their whims and fancies.”

Having the AGM at the end of February is cutting it tight so to write. The International Rugby Board (IRB) has given Sri Lanka time until the 31st of March to have an elected body. Failure to do will result in all funding for development being suspended and Sri Lanka will not be able to participate in any International tournaments.

However, should Sri Lanka have an elected body they will release the funds that were withheld this year as well as the funds for next year. And should there be an elected body Sri Lanka can also request for coaching and training staff from the IRB.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka will not be taking part in 2010 Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament. The reason is there were two qualifying tournaments to make any participating country eligible to compete in the Hong Kong sevens rugby tournament.

The First qualifying rugby tournament to be held this year was the Shanghai Rugby Sevens tournament where Sri Lanka fared poorly.

Gunasekera said “The second tournament was the Malaysian Sevens which we did not participate because our ranking is very low and there was no point in spending extra money on a tournament which we may have fared badly once again”.

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