The Education Ministry has expressed its displeasure and has threatened stern disciplinary action against the Sri Lanka Schools’ Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) on their handling of the under 18 division 2 Seven a side Rugby Tournament.
Permission had been sought by the SLSRFA to hold the said tournament at Moratuwa Central College on the 22nd & 23rd of October but it turns out that the tournament had been held elsewhere. The Education ministry is also said to have been unhappy at the fact that applications for the tournament had been called without the approval of the Ministry of Education.
A media release signed by Sunil Jayaweera, Special advisor on sports and physical education to the sports minister, mentioned that “When calling for applications for any tournament all the Schools’ sports bodies are required to obtain approval from the Ministry of Education and this request needs to be handed over at least a month prior but the schools’ body has only sought permission on the 4th of this month.”
When contacted by ThePapare.com, Mr. Jayaweera mentioned that “There has been an incident regarding the Schools’ Rugby Football Union where they have held a tournament at a different venue and not the one that was approved. We have not yet taken a decision regarding this but will communicate it to you as soon as a decision is made regarding the association”
The Under 18 Division 02 Seven a side tournament was initially planned to take place at the Rajagiriya Ananda College grounds on the 21st of September but was called off since the SLSRFA had not sought approval from the national body resulting in referees and officials refraining from attending the tournament.
Marikar lashes out at schools’ rugby authorities
Earlier this week Sri Lanka Rugby’s high performance director, Inthi Marikar lashed out at the Sri Lanka Schools’ Rugby Association (SLSRFA) for their negligence in the preparation for the upcoming Asia U19 tournament which is known as the Junior Asiad. He also added that “SLSRFA delaying and not responding shows their unprofessionalism and this will be a headache for the national selectors in time to come. Even before the age-level sevens tournament, SLSRFA handed-over 70 names to select the final 12 in two days. This was a joke.”
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