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Unacceptable and questionable would be the argument of some. Yet the Special General Meeting of the SLRFU took place on 31st of May. This was despite a walk out by some of the Provincial Unions. The meeting continued in the presence of two members one of whom was the schools association. It is an irony and twist of fate that the schools who are observers at the council were the king makers. If not for them there would not have been any member to second nominations that contest the Nominations of the Western Province.
Thus in a short time it has come to light as to how short sighted the framers of the amendments of the constitution has been. No vote at the council but has the power to determine the future at a general meeting. It will be a matter of time for us to see the effects of recognizing the mandate of the clubs individually and not give the right to the province to whom they belong. Whether the worm will be sealed and forgotten after this meeting or whether it will produce and cause multiple problems not only to rugby but sport in general will have to be seen.
The new President of the SLRFU Air vice Marshall Roshan Gunatilleke will have a lot on his hands as he takes the mantle of this embattled Union which was once the envy of many sports bodies. |
Whatever it may be the President, Secretary and other council members have been elected. It appears that we have overcome the deadline and the IRB may accept the present status of the SLRFU being an elected body. Provincial Unions indicated their disapproval of an e-mail sent by the Vice President prior to the meeting.
Prior to the meeting the President of the Ruhunu Rugby Football Union communicated by e-mail their objections. In this mail it was said that “Those eligible to attend a General Meeting of the SLRFU are the Members of the SLRFU who are the Provincial Unions and the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, the Life members of the SLRFU and the Office Bearers of the SLRFU. Dr. Maiya Gunasekera and past Presidents are not entitled to attend this SGM as per the Constitution of the SLRFU”.
It also stated that Voting should be done by a show of hands and only by the Members of the SLRFU and the Office Bearers of the SLRFU where Annual General Meetings are concerned and only by the Members of the SLRFU when an SGM is held.
The club in each province comes under the purview of their respective Provincial Unions and the Ministry of Sports has already given the voting structure to the Members of the SLRFU. Therefore the clubs, in their own right, are not entitled to attend and vote at any General Meeting as per the Constitution of the SLRFU.
In view of the IRB banning the SLRFU from International Competition and Development Funding if a proper SLRFU Council is not in place by the 31st of May 2010, we could continue with the SGM only if the Members of the SLRFU are in agreement.
The main issue that was contested was who would attend as well conduct the special general meeting and the voting which they believe was the right of the Provincial Union.
Despite the objections the meeting went ahead with same being conducted by the Former president of the Interim Body, a life member and the Treasurer of the SLRFU. The provinces contested the voting and the acceptance to vote in terms of the mandate of the clubs given at the meeting of the Provincial Union. A majority of the provinces walked out of the meeting. Quixotic one may say: but won over the maestro of the southern province who showed his hand too early. Thus it was a prepared show down with legal experts on hand.
The new President of the SLRFU Air vice Marshall Roshan Gunatilleke will have a lot on his hands as he takes the mantle of this embattled Union which was once the envy of many sports bodies. A young rugby stalwart who has played at the highest level opined that what is most needed is the introduction of governance and he believed that the new president has the background to introduce same. It is not stopping at that but to plan and move to take rugby to a new height in Asia that needs to get his attention early. We are a Top 5 Nation team and in the first half of 2011 we have to keep our schedule with best of Asian Rugby on a home and away series.
It is necessary that we have a strategy to be among the best and not fall back to the lower level as has happened to others who have climbed up. It is up to him to see that the foundation is laid not only for reconciliation but to get rugby off the ground at grassroot level. To keep rugby in the provinces as this helps to spread the game via the schools. Despite the fact that there has not been a top level club emerging from the outstations we have seen players who have shot to fame and represented the best schools, the top clubs and the country too. What is needed is to look at the game from a broad perspective and not be distracted by some petty minds that use the law to hinder and not facilitate.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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