Unions challenge appointment of Sinhawansa as Executive Director
Rugby stakeholders have expressed their concern over the intended appointment of an employee of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to the newly formed Working Task Force, which was formed by the Minister of Sports recently to replace the duties of the Competent Authority.
Sources confirm that at least six of the Provincial Unions affiliated to SLR, and a few others of its membership, have strongly opposed the appointment of Hassan Sinhawansa as a member of the five-member Working Task Force, chaired by Senior DIG (Rtd) M.R. Latif. Others in the Working Task Force include National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramaniam, President’s Counsel Dinal Philips, Ravi Wijenathan, and DIG (Rtd) Hafeel Marso.
According to confirmed sources, the Provincial Unions of Western (WPRFU) and Central (CPRFU) have formally objected to the appointment of Sinhawansa as Executive Director to the Working Task Force, a position he similarly holds currently at SLR. In a jointly echoed sentiment, the two provincial unions submitted written objections, citing “serious concerns” about Sinhawansa’s prior conduct during his tenure at SLR.
Although both unions had previously supported his appointment as Executive Director, they now emphasise that he was officially removed from that role by the Ministry in 2024 due to alleged lapses in professionalism and work ethics.
“Although we had previously endorsed his appointment, we observed significant concerns regarding his professional conduct and work ethics. Given these past experiences, we do not believe his appointment at this critical juncture is appropriate or credible,” stated CPRFU President Kavinda Jayasena.
The unions urge the immediate removal of Sinhawansa from the Task Force and his replacement with a more suitable individual—preferably an individual with credentials and one who has not been previously suspended or dismissed from service.
“We respectfully request that he (Sinhawansa) be removed from the Working Task Force and be replaced with a more suitable candidate — preferably someone who has not been previously suspended or dismissed from service,” stated the note sent by Waruna de Silva of WPRFU.
Though the Working Task Force is yet to respond officially to the letters sent by the two unions, it is expected that a few more concerned Provincial Unions have already sent similar letters regarding the same issue. A source close to the Working Task Force said that the matter will be taken up at its upcoming meeting.
The dispute surfaces at a crucial time for SLR, which is gearing up for its Annual General Meeting and elections after a lapse of nearly 13 months since it was suspended by the then Minister of Sport, Harin Fernando, who appointed the current Director General of Sports, Shemal Fernando, as the Competent Authority. The handling of these objections, observers say, will be a litmus test for the Sports Ministry’s commitment to impartiality, professionalism, and good governance.
The Sports Minister last week removed two of his earlier appointees, including the Chairman of the five-member Working Task Force, due to a possible conflict of interest as they are involved with the National Sports Council (NSC). Their removal came just a day after the Minister gazetted Priyantha Ekanayake, the current Chairman of the NSC, as Chairman, and Rohan Abayakoon as a member of the five-member committee that also included Senior DIG (Rtd) M.R. Latiff, Suresh Subramaniam, President of the National Olympic Committee, and Dinal Phillips, President’s Counsel, as members.
The Minister replaced both Ekanayake and Abayakoon with Marso, and Wijenathan. In Ekanayake’s absence, SDIG Latiff was appointed as head of the five-member committee. The Sports Minister also temporarily suspended the registration of SLR and decided to appoint a five-member WTF to oversee constitutional reforms and manage the organisation’s affairs.
The decision, announced through an Extraordinary Gazette Notification on 22 May 2025, represents a dramatic intervention in the governance of the country’s rugby union, following recommendations from World Rugby (WR), which demanded constitutional amendments and the conduct of elections of office bearers.