IRB suspends full membership of SLRFU

Anuradha ABEYSEKARA

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has suspended Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union’s (SLRFU) full membership status with immediate effect, the IRB official website stated.

The IRB council has taken the decision after SLRFU has failed to conduct its annual general meeting in accordance with IRB rules. The SLRFU has been reduced to IRB Associate Member status.

According to the IRB constitution the annual general meeting should have been completed before January 31, 2011. IRB will take the suspension into consideration with further review on April 1, depending on successful completion of SLRFU’s AGM.

Yet SLRFU will be able to participate in Asian Rugby Football Union competitions.

Subject to the regional association’s rules, the web site further mentioned. When contacting SLRFU Executive Director Rohan Gunaratne, he said that this is just a temporary downgrading and once we continue with the adjourned AGM and complete it before March 31, IRB will re-elevate us to the full membership status. “As the IRB has given us 40,000 Sterling Pounds on March 7 for the Rugby Development Program the suspension will not affect the IRB aid. All we have to do is hold this AGM and appoint the officials before March 31,” explained Gunaratne.

“It is very sad to see Sri Lankan rugby has to suffer for the misconducts of the administrators. We are one of the first countries to play rugby in the region and claims over 100-year history. The Union’s accounts have not been properly audited during the interim committee’s period,” said the former SLRFU Chief Executive Officer Dilroy Fernando.