President Rajapaksa’s intervention sought

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), in a bid to end the on-going controversy of the local rugby scene involving the selection of two captains of the Sri Lanka national XV have officially written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his intervention, SLRFU President DIG Nimal Lewke said yesterday.

He said the game’s local ruling body the SLRFU has decided to write to President seeking his involvement through an independent inquiry to settle the rugby crisis before the national team embarks on a crucial tour of Chinese Taipei shortly.

“We decided to President Rajapaksa”, DIG Lewke said. “This issue of two captains, tour selector and several other issues have to be sorted out and we want President to intervene as a sports loving person and nip this matter in the bud”.

The SLRFU President stated that among other topics raised in the letter had been to look into the aspect of why the previous five-member selection panel headed by Brigadier Jupana Jayawardene was dissolved by the Minister of Sports solely on the recommendation of the National Sports Council officials with vested interests.

The letter forwarded to the President is also likely to draw his attention to the criteria followed in choosing a fresh five-member panel of selectors and the merits of retaining the CR&FC number eight Dushanth Lewke as captain.

DIG Lewke noted that SLRFU was compelled to seek the intervention of President Rajapaksa as his body had lost faith in the Minister of Sports and his Ministry officials in the manner in which the on-going rugby crisis has been handled thus far.

DIG Lewke who is to relinquish his post after a two-year stipulated term as the President of the SLRFU next year, emphasised that only President Rajapaksa can bring about a lasting settlement to the current rugby impasse which is seriously threatening to scupper Sri Lanka’s chances at the HSBC Asian Five Nations Division one tournament in Chinese Taipei next month.

JK