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By Dinesh Weerawansa

There have been several proposals to amend the constitution of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, for the devolution of power and to get the key representatives of the five Provincial Unions get actively involved in the SLRFU council.

This follows after the Central Province Rugby Football Union keeping away from last Sunday's AGM and the elections of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union over a dispute with regard to the number of votes allocated to the Central Province RFU.

Former Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union President and media spokesman, Dr, Maiya Gunasekera said problems of this nature could easily be avoided if the current Ex-co (the council) of the SLRFU be expanded, preferably with three Vice Presidents, compared to one, provided by the current constitution. "I suggest to expand the council with three Vice Presidents from different Provincial unions. This will give provincial unions a fare chance to voice their views at council level," said Dr. Gunasekera, the former Sri Lanka, CR & FC and Royal player turned surgeon. "Apart from 3 VPs, we should have an Asst. Secretary and an Asst. Treasurer. We have more international rugby.

Hence, there should be more people and more ideas to handle the present day demand," Dr. Gunasekera explained.

But Dr. Gunasekera said it is unfair to treat teams playing in 'A', 'B' and 'C' division tournaments in the same manner and have equal number of votes. "The SLRFU considers its 'A' and 'B' division inter-club tournaments as major tournaments, but not the 'C' division. So we can not have all these clubs to have equal number of voting rights. Probably we could give three votes to an 'A' division club, two to a 'B' division club and one to a 'C' division club. Or it could be two votes to A, and one each to B and C division clubs," he outlined a reasonable solution to the ongoing voting rights battle with the Central Province RFU and the parent body.

He commended the progress made by the Southern Province RFU and Sabaragamuwa Province RFU. "This has been mainly due to a untiring efforts made by two individuals - Kumar Abeywardena and Arjun Dharmadasa. These type of real men involved in the provincial set up could be taken to the council so that they could voice for their provincial unions," he added. Dr. Gunasekera said he managed to expand the Ex-co of the Western Province RFU while he was heading it and get all clubs in the province represented in the administration set up. He said the SLRFU could do the same and avoid conflict with provincial unions due to misunderstandings.

Meanwhile, SLRFU President, Commodore Harsha Mayadunne, when contacted yesterday, said a two third majority is needed if they are to change the SLRFU constitution. "First, such proposals should come out at provincial union level and put forwarded to the SLRFU Council. Then the members will debate and decide whether a change is needed or not," he said.

Secretary of the Central Province RFU, Iswarn Omar welcomed the idea of having more Vice Presidents to give more administrative positions in the parent body to the provincial unions. He said the CPRFU did not boycott the SLRFU AGM but wrote to the union in advance and informed that they are not attending. "We are still protesting over the SLRFU's decision to cut down out votes from four to two. If the Union is to do that they must bring that to the council and get an amendment passed. It is unfair to reduce our voting rights without a valid reason. We have informed the Sports Minister on this matter too," he said.

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