Aruna one of the finest referees

Upananda Jayasundera Kandy Sports Special Corr.

Aruna Krishantha Rankothge, an old boy of St Sylvester’s College, Kandy is rated as one of the finest referees at present.

Having learnt rugby in his Alma Mater where he represented the school in the ninetees, Aruna later went on to play for Kandy Sports Club from 1991 to 1993 as centre as well as wing forward in the Clifford Cup and Caltex tournaments.

With the knowledge he gained playing his school as well as Kandy Sports Club he started refereeing and he has come on top at the International Panel Referees in the last six years.

Aruna has refereed the Bradby Shield match between Trinity and Royal for a number of years while training in the game of rugby in Wales, UK and Thailand. He also has the distinction of refereeing the following tournaments.

a) World Cup qualifying matches in China in the year 2004.

b) Asst. Referee World Cup Qualifying matches in India in 2005.

c) Inter Refereeing the International Singapore Sevens Rugby Tournament in the year 2005/06.

d) Officiating as a Referee in the South East Asian Sevens in Thailand in the year 2007.

e) Under 20 World Cup qualifying matches in South Korea in the year 2008.

f) Refereeing the Asian Division II Tournament in Philippines in the year 2009 and also Asst. Referee at the Asian Fi-nations Division I Rugby Tournament, in Dubai this year.

Presently he is an Executive Officer attached to Amaya Hills Hotels Ltd, Kandy and coaching the Trinity Junior Rugby team.

Picture shows Aruna in his IRB Jersey.