Enjoining Order on SLSRFA extended till May 4

Sandasen Marasinghe

Colombo District Judge Sampath Wijeratne yesterday extended the enjoining order that restrained the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) from acting on its decision to demote the St. Anthony’s College team of Kandy to Group 1 Segment 2 in 2009 season till May 04.

The Court also fixed May 06, for hearing of the answers and objections filed by the defendants K.D. Punyadasa, Kumara Rodrigo and A.K.B. Dodanwela respectively the President, Secretary and the Treasurer of the SLSRFA in connection with this action.

The enjoining order also prevented SLSRFA from taking any steps preventing St Anthony’s College (SACK) playing at the School League Rugby Tournament 2009 in Group 1 Segment 1 till determination of this plaint.

Principal of the St. Anthony’s College of Kandy Rev. Fr. Titus Rodrigo filed the plaint before Colombo District Court and prayed to declare the decision by the SLSRFA to demote the St. Anthony’s College to Group 1 Segment 2 in the School Rugby League Tournament 2009 was null and void.

The defendants filing the answers and the objections stated that the plaintiff learnt even before June 28, 2008 by means of a news item in a newspaper that his school had been demoted to Group 1 Segment 2. If the plaintiff was not satisfied with the same decision of the SLSRFA it could have taken two remedial actions at the initial stage. The plaintiff could have appealed to the SLSRFA or to the Sports Association of the Education Ministry.

The defendants further stated that the plaintiff deliberately did not take these actions with the intention to jeopardise the SLSRFA League Tournament 2009. The defendants also stated that there were nearly 65 schools that played Rugby while 3000 students involved in the game.

If the tournament were canceled those students would never entertain that opportunity again in their life again. Based on these grounds to deprive these players of participating in the tournament was unjust.

The defendants prayed before the Court to dismiss the case.