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 ...

Read More →

World Rugby Investigation on Sri Lanka in July – By Harsha Amarasinghe Source : dailymirror World Rugby (WR) on Monday (29) informed the Sports Ministry of Sri Lanka that they would also be investigated as a part of WR review process following the ban imposed on Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).  Sports Ministry took some stern decisions in the last few months, which has resulted quite negatively on rugby in particular.  SLR was officially suspended by WR on May 11 after which the Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe wrote a letter to the WR in an attempt clear the air.  In response to that the WR has now said that investigation will begin in collaboration with Asia Rugby (AR). “Whilst recognizing Sri Lanka as a sovereign nation with its own domestic legal framework, in order to reach an outcome which ensures compliance with the World Rugby Bye-Laws, World Rugby must gain further ...

Read More →

Asia Rugby Reinstates Sri Lanka Rugby as Full Member Source:Asiarugby The Sri Lanka Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs officially confirmed the cancellation of the gazette notification dated April 1st, 2022. Considering this, Asia Rugby has made the prudent decision to reinstate Sri Lanka Rugby as a full member of Asia Rugby. During its meeting on April 9th, 2022, in Phuket, Thailand, the Asia Rugby Executive Committee (EXCO) temporarily suspended Sri Lanka Rugby’s membership. On May 1st, 2022 EXCO unanimously ratified the decision and imposed a full membership suspension. ...

Read More →

Can Gollings reverse Sri Lanka’s rugby fortunes?-by a special sports correspondent Source:Island Sri Lanka’s rugby players and fans received inspiring news days ago with the sport’s governing body Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) appointing England rugby union star Ben Gollings as Rugby Director to oversee preparations of the national men’s and women’s squads for the upcoming Asian Sevens Series. Gollings perhaps knows too well that this cricket crazy nation also has a similar passion for rugby union; especially the abbreviated form of the sport. Gollings is no stranger to the Sri Lanka rugby scene having had a coaching stint back in the island in 2012. The island’s rugby squads are often loaded with ‘steppers’ (fast runners) when the best players from all the clubs are drafted into the national pool. But this time around the players from Kandy SC and CR&FC will not be considered for selection because these two clubs ...

Read More →

Leonard-the cricketer turned ruggerite-by Althaf Nawaz Leonard de Zilwa Source:Dailynews St. Peter’s College, Colombo is one of the pioneer Catholic institutions in the country which has a proud history of producing several outstanding persons both in education and sports who have reached the pinnacle in their respective fields. Leonard de Zilwa was one of them who made his ‘Alma Mater’ proud by engaging in the game of rugby gradually transforming to be the cynosure of all eyes as a player and coach. Leonard was born in 1974 and his father was Melvin de Zilwa also a Peterite who worked as a Pharmacist while Chithra de Zilwa is his mother who is a housewife. He has three other siblings with two elder sisters Rochelle and Rozabelle who schooled at Holy Family Convent, Dehiwala are housewives while his elder brother Lucian who is also a Peterite is a Pharmacist living in the ...

Read More →

Nimal Lewke top class sportsman, coach and administrator-by Hafiz Marikar Nimal-Lewke Kandy’s rugby lovers still talk about Kandy born Nimal Lewke’s contribution for sports, which should be weighed in gold. He was a sportsman who will be long remembered for his contribution to rugby especially Kandy Sports Club. He never played rugby for the school, as at that time there was no rugby at his school. He started his rugby at Kandy Sports club and later took to coaching. It was he who guided the club to win the first Triple Crown in 1995,. He was an outstanding sportsman, coach, administrator and top class referee with a vision to produce results besides being a crack police commando with the Special Task Force (STF) where he served as Commandant and Deputy Inspector General. He excelled in boxing cricket and rugby and ended up as the president of Sri Lanka Rugby. ...

Read More →

Sri Lanka Rugby should help Kelani Valley Club to come back to the game Source: MSN Sri Lanka Rugby should help the historic Kelani ValleyClub to come back to the game, housed at Talduwa it has a history going back to 1884. The Kelani Valley (KV) at one time was a top rugby playing club. The KelaniValley Club (KV Club) is one of the oldest planter’s clubs . The club was established in 1885 by low-country Kelani Valley Planters who were mainly European settlers with F. Duncan as its first president. . They played the first match against Havelock SC . In 1950 the club was one of the original eight clubs which competed in the Clifford Cup with Kandy SC, Havelock SC, CH and FC, CR and FC, Dimbula A and CC, Dickoya MCC, Kelani Valley (KV) and Uva Gymkhana Club. The final placing of the inaugural league tournament ...

Read More →

Nalin-the iron man of Sri Lanka rugby by Althaf Nawaz   Source:-dailynews Sri Lanka has produced some top class sportsmen in various sporting fields, from top schools in towns. The schools in the 1970’s and 80’s played a pivotal role in producing them in rugby, players who played for the love and passion of the game. Group Captain Nalin de Silva from Isipathana College, Colombo was one of them who remained in the hearts of the rugby loving fraternity for his excemplary conduct as an officer having been formerly known as “Iron man in schools Rugby” due to his tireless performance in the school’s rugby arena. Nalin had a sound academic career and he started playing rugby at the age of 15 years. He joined the second XV team in the 1960’s while gaining experience matured to be a regular member of the first XV team under Hafi Abdeen’s captaincy. ...

Read More →