April 13, Colombo (LNW): Although the current constitutionally empowered individuals within the rugby administration have stated on several occasions that they are agree to constitutional amendments if necessary, and that such matters can be resolved through discussions with World Rugby, the present Sports Minister is attempting to draft an entirely new constitution outside the framework of the existing rugby constitution and implement it as the basis for governing rugby.

This move, which is being carried out with the full support of the Director General of Sports, is even more extreme than those taken by previous ministers and is backed by the president of the former
administration, which was dissolved by the previous minister due to failure to hold elections.

The Minister is either telling a blatant lie or is under an even more dangerous influence. He claims that the ‘A sports clubs’ have no authority within the provincial associations. In reality, ‘A sports clubs’ exist only in Kandy and Colombo. It is the provincial associations that play the most vital role in developing rugby across other provinces. These associations not only support the ‘A sports clubs’ but also work tirelessly to guide and channel players into the provincial-level rugby system.

On the other hand, as the Minister himself admitted in Parliament, officials from the ‘A sports clubs’ were present when the £50,000 fine was imposed. The Chief Executive Officer involved at that
time is now the Chairman of the National Sports Council, appointed by the Minister himself. The individual currently seated alongside the Minister and the Director General from Asia
is the very same person who presided over the £50,000 incident. Therefore, the damage caused by that incident holds no real value for the current Minister except as a political weapon to attack
Namal Rajapaksa in Parliament. Ironically, he is relying on the same group that managed Namal’s rugby affairs, continuing with them while turning a blind eye to the harm they have caused to local rugby development.

The Director General of Sports, who is a military officer, does not want to back down from criticism of his behavior. The Minister is also of the same type. He also has a low self-esteem that if someone points out two facts and admits to them and changes, it will damage his ministerial personality. Now, the individuals who took the initiative to violate the country’s immigration law in relation to this two-year 50,000 pound incident and agreed to pay the fine by deducting it from the money coming to the development of rugby in Sri Lanka are also reducing the objections they may have to the Sri Lankan Rugby Constitution.

The reason behind their agreement is to portray themselves as superior by refusing to align with those who criticize the system. However, what this truly signifies is that this Minister and the
Director General will be remembered in history as the ones who assumed responsibility and leadership in steering the future of Sri Lankan rugby toward disaster.

The Director General’s claims that the election cannot be held are inaccurate. In contrast, the statements made by the President of the Uva Provincial Rugby Association, Mr. Denzil Darling, are
accurate on this matter. While there was a case filed in the High Court concerning the election, it was not the reason for its postponement. The postponement is being driven by the Director General, based on the intervention of the President of Asia Rugby.

The Director General has been charged with contempt of court for violating the law by allowing the Asian Rugby Chairman to cancel the election, despite a prior agreement to proceed with the election as per a court order. Although the court has determined that his actions amount to contempt and summoned him alone for investigation, the Director General is now involving the Minister, the Ministry, the Attorney General, and the Attorney General’s Department. His intention appears to be to bypass the scheduled election and push through a new rugby constitution before the election can take place.

This Minister and the Director General have no qualms or sense of shame about sitting with those who have been fined £50,000 and have not provided proper accounting records for a debt of £55
million. Those who were entrusted with the responsibility of rescuing rugby and advancing its future even engaging directly with Asia Rugby on this matter now see the group challenging rugby’s progress in the country as the ones truly at fault.

In his speech regarding the £50,000 fine announced in Parliament, the Minister announced that this issue arose because the compliant officers, who acted in line with Namal’s political interests, went along with Baby’s wishes. It is now being proven once again that politicians really like such people. They do not tolerate direct work.

This is repeatedly proving that the delay in holding the election is not due to a lawsuit, as the Director General of Sports claims. Rather, it is a deliberate attempt to fulfill the ulterior motive of amending the Rugby Constitution, distancing it from the current holders of constitutional power.

One thing must be made clear: the desire of Asia or the interests of world rugby to change the rugby constitution do not fall within the legal framework or sports policies of a country. Since Sri Lanka has not faced any penalties for preventing an association from gaining power to negotiate under the existing constitution, it is the Minister who is holding the political mandate to shape Sri Lankan rugby according to the wishes of several powerful forces in Asia and the world. The responsibility for this direction was assumed even before the Minister’s tenure, and it is the Director General who has been steering this course since the time of Minister Roshan Ranasinghe.

This behavior is a childish and immature attempt to protect the guilty while targeting those who criticize them. Consequently, politics and bureaucracy supporting this move are rooted in a situation where they are unknowingly serving the interests of others. An immature mindset fails to comprehend this.

*Adapted from original article, “ඇමතිටයි ඩීජී ටයි ඕනි A ක්‍රීඩා සමාජයක සභාපති කෙනෙක්…?” by Nishman Ranasinghe published on 13/04/2025.