Is Sr Lanka Rugby a victim of hidden agenda resulting in ban by Asian Rugby Union? – Political interference may be the reason for it’s failure to succeed – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka Rugby appears to have been a victim of political interference that resulted in the country being banned by the Asian Rugby Union.
The Asian Rugby Union has, after some changes made by the current Sports Minister and Sri Lanka Rugby Union, reinstated Sri Lanka back into the Asian circuit after considering assurances from the current administration of Sri Lanka Rugby.
When politicians use their position as manipulators of sport for personal reasons, they compromise the country’s position on a global scale apart from making a comedy of the sport, and this appears to be the case for the country’s plight.
The former Sports Minister in his outgoing action, undoubtedly was unconscionable when he jeopardised Sri Lanka’s standing as a playing nation without consideration of his actions and its implications. It drives a point that Sports administration in any country should not be politically affiliated, judging by the disregard of consequences by the former Sports Minister
His gazette notification declariing the controlling body dissolved before relinquishing his role, and leaving the administration in limbo, certainly raised the ire of the Asian Rugby Union resulting in the country’s dismissal.
But a recent remedial action by the locals has resulted in the country’s re -acceptance.
Hopefully, it is a lesson learnt and not repeated at the expense of the Sports men and women in the country. Widescale changes from the top, with legal challenges is believed to be the new direction the current administration has chosen to remedy its sorry situation.
Appointing interim administration in its pursuit of remedying issues that extend to inappropriate interaction between Sri Lanka Rugby and the controlling Asian Rugby Union, while dealing with matters related to personal differences politically linked, that is not in line with Sri Lankan involvement, is a conflict of interest, say those within.
Sr Lanka Rugby boasts of a long history spanning over hundred years after the game was introduced to the country during British rule, and was initially confined to the Tea plantation areas up country.
The sport is only second in popularity after Cricket which took top rating after they were accepted to the top tier of the game in 1982 and then won the World Cup in 1996.
Rugby in Sri Lanka has been a glamour sport and continues to draw crowds at club and inter- school tournaments. It sits at the present with International recognition. But progress has been stagnant due to self preservation and internal instability.
The future of Sri Lanka Rugby rests on its nurturing and acceptance, initially, through the Asian Rugby Union.
