SLRFU withdrew Rs. 187 lakhs in three months - Kiran Atapattu

By Lal Gunasekera

The previous Council of the Sri Lankan Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) were running on overdrafts, which confirms The Sunday Leader exposure of January 11. After persuing the latest bank statements they (the SLRFU) had withdrawn Rs.187 lakhs between October and Janaury 23,from their account at Standard Chartered Bank.

This was told to The Sunday Leader by Kiran Atapattu one of the leading businessman in the country,who had won 27 awards for Business Administration. An Advisor to Minister Lokuge, Atapattu, is the Secretary cum Treasurer for the SLRFU Interim Committee headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera.

Atapattu said that he wanted to check the accounts of the SLRFU,but was told that it had gone for auditing. He said, "They had a fixed deposit of Rs. 40 milion with the Standard Chartered Bank on November 15, 2007 for 91 day maturity and in another deal Rs. 48 million in fixed deposits from November 13, 2008 to February, 2009".

Atapattu further said that he requested Standard Chartered Bank to release these monies to the Interim Committee to be deposited in a state bank. He said that they refused, stating that the SLRFU had taken an overdraft for Rs. 15 million and only Rs. 32 million was available when we took over.

Atapattu made another startling revelation. The previous Council had wanted the Ministry of Sports to pay the SLRFU Rs. 5 lakhs which was spent for Chaminda Rupasinghe's expenses for the tour of Chinese Taipei last November. He (Rupasinghe) went as Tour Selector at the request of Minister Lokuge and the SLRFU had given him Rs. 70,000/- for his food and accommodation. Atapattu said that it costs only Rs. 160,000/- to travel to Taiwan via Bangkok on Business Class!!

Atapattu further revealed that the previous SLRFU regime had ordered the staff at the SLRFU headquarter's not to permit him  and Dr. Maiya Gunasekera to enter it's premises.

Simkin returns

Atapattu also disclosed that the Interim Committee had sealed a deal with former national coach, George Simpkin of New Zealand,to be the national coach of Sri Lanka's 7's team and also for the Asian Division I Championship in Sri Lanka in April.

"We are thankful to Rohan Abeykoon and Priyantha Ekanayake for informing that Simpkin was in Sri Lanka on a holiday. Dr. Gunasekera contacted Simpkin and sealed the deal, which will be reviewed after April. We have not yet discussed the terms and conditions with Simpkin,who was national coach in 2005 and 2006 said Atapattu.

Is it an interim or intriguing committee?

FOR all the many controversies that blighted rugby year-long, an Interim Committee to administer the sport was always on the cards. And when Sport Minister, Gamini Lokuge eventually appointed one last week, the only surprise was why it took so long in coming.

It has to be said, though, the timing of the IC is most intriguing. After all, the AGM of the SLRFU is slated for February 21, which means the controversial reign of the DIG Nimal Lewke committee is as good as a closed file, and in a matter of a few weeks, a new elected administration would be in office: pretty much the normal course as new regime replaces the old.

 But then, the last regime hardly ever chose to tread the normal course. For instance, it took office two years ago breaching a time-honoured tradition (of not opposing incoming office-bearers nominated by the outgoing committee). So, it is not surprising that it should depart too in a manner dramatically different to the norm.

Interim committe

However, it wouldn't be wrong to say that an interim committee had become inevitable, given the recent resignations of key officials, without two of whom the AGM could not have been summoned. CEO Dilroy Fernando left on December 31; then Secretary, SSP Duke Hamid and President, DIG Lewke resigned with in days of each other in mid-January.

The constitution specifies that notice of an AGM can be issued by only the CEO or the Secretary. Those notices should've gone out four weeks before the February, 21.  But the SLRFU had no CEO or Secretary at the time the notice was to be issued. Fernando, of course, is a paid-employee and had notified of his resignation a month before. SSP Hamid's eligibility to hold the Secretary's job was being investigated when he resigned. DIG Lewke, the president, quit days later, complaining he can't stomach any more of what he alleged are machinations of a "Mafia"- though he forgot to explain how he had endured his tormentors for all but only the final 30 days of his two-year term.

So, with no one in authority to summon an AGM, it became necessary for minister Lokuge to dissolve the elected administration and appoint a two-man interim committee until such time the AGM, in the minister's own words "is held as soon as possible'' - how soon that will be we'll leave for discussion later. First, though, let's reflect and ask why rugby brought upon itself its darkest day.

Rugby, to be sure, has had its share of politics for decades, born of inter-club rivalry of the type that doesn't do any serious harm to the sport. At worse, that rivalry was manifested when national teams were selected as selectors tended to show bias in favour of players from clubs of their persuasion. Otherwise, the rivalry was no more than good-natured banter. Rugby, so, was a safe distance away from being administered by government-appointed interim committee, an eventuality that represents a damning indictment on the sport's administrators. What it says is that the men elected for their supposed devotion to the sport are so incapable of honestly administrating it that the government is compelled to appoint other men to do the job.

Tranished name

Sadly, rugby last week admitted its men had shamed the good name of the game by opening the doors to an IC. The spirits of the late J D Farquherson, A C Walker, Justice E F N Gratien, Arthur Loos, Stanley de Saram, William Molegoda and all those illustrious SLRFU presidents of the past would surely wish, if they could, for their names to be wiped away from the presidential roll of the now-tarnished sport.    

Back to the present: Had one of the two officials authorized to put his signature to the notice summoning the AGM been at work, then there would've been no reason for an IC at this point in time. Granted that both the CEO and the Secretary had resigned, but that didn't mean there weren't other options. A CEO could've been hired temporarily so that the SLRFU would've had a constitutionally authorized officer to issue notice of the AGM. There are yet some well-intentioned men in rugby who would have been only too willing to help the game out of this crisis by acting as honorary CEO - men like Priyantha Ekanayake or Anton Benedict, two past SLRFU presidents who, for their ever deep-seated interest in the game, might've been born with hearts shaped like a rugby ball.

All it needed was for council members to consult each other in a collective quest for resolutions. But an administration ever at war with itself, as the last one was, mostly agreed to disagree. One theory has it that the Secretary and President resigned days of each other just so that an interim committee might be put in place. It is a mischievous theory, but supporters of vice president Asanga Seneviratne will swear it is true, given that the VP - and heir apparent President - and DIG Lewke didn't have exactly an amiable working relationship.

All that however is now water under the bridge. An interim committee for rugby is a fact of life, and so has to be accepted.

IC is Temporary

By definition an interim committee is temporary and its lifespan is only until such time the deficiencies of the administration it replaced are put right. Other interim committees were appointed in the wake of charges of corruption, fraud or like felony. Rugby, it has to be said, wasn't accused of such grave crimes - the most serious charge was perhaps extravagant spending on hosting of and participating in dubious foreign tournaments, a misdemeanor really in comparison to the sort of felonies that ejected some other elected bodies. Rugby was given an IC only because the only two officials with the authority to summon an AGM had resigned - hardly a crime at all.

If the interim committee is meant to lay the ground for the 2009 AGM, that's well and good. But history tells us the life of an interim committee has been anything but brief. Elected administrators in cricket is now but a fading memory; the government now has such a firm clasp on cricket, via the IC, that there have been times it ordered the inclusion or exclusion of national players.

Ape Miniya

Then there's case of an interim committee foisted on tennis in 2007, with the ministerial promise that the AGM will be held no sooner than a check on the legitimacy of some clubs voting-rights was completed. Two years have elapsed since that check was made, but the interim committee lives on yet - because its chairman, Janaka Bogollagama, in minister Lokuge's words is "ape miniya'' - and so can't be removed, no matter that the Rs10M bank balance the Bogollagama committee inherited is now Rs.2M in the red.

Those are but two examples that go to illustrate why ICs are long term, if not forever. More seriously, ICs breed a different culture of sport administration, leaning more on unilateralism as against the collectivism of an elected body. Arjuna Ranatunga might have been removed as IC cricket chief because he allegedly took decisions unilaterally, but then it was the element of carte blanche inherent in ICs that provided him the license to do so. It is IC system, without the restraints of collectivism, which undid him.   

So, unless the minister is as good as his word (his promise to tennis, though, inspires little hope he will), IC might well be institutionalized in rugby too, and that isn't good news. Some will point at cricket and say that the game didn't go to rack and ruin under IC governance. Cricket, it must be remembered, generates its own cash and so can look after itself, who ever governs. Rugby, on the other hand, is pretty much the brother of Oliver Twist: dependent, bowl in hand, on the tender mercies of sponsors. And signs are the handouts are going to get less, due as much to the economic recession as the union's reputation for being a hotbed of controversy.

Singer, long rugby's most faithful benefactor, has already suspended its sponsorship for the next six months. Caltex CEO Kishu Gomes, meanwhile, has publicly expressed concern over the events that led to the appointment of the IC. That is putting it politely - in plain-speak what Gomes meant is that the sponsor of the league and knockout tournaments is displeased with the way rugby officials have been at each other's throat and so, would have to review their future association with the union.

Uncertain times lie ahead of Sri Lanka rugby.

'Illegal AGM of SLRFU called by Rizly Illyaz'

By Lal Gunesekera

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) was dissolved by Minister of Sports and Public Recreation, Gamini Lokuge, on January 22. However, Rizly Illyaz, who was appointed ass acting Secretary on January 16 subsequent to the resignation of SP. Duke Hameed, hsas in a letter on a letter heads of the SLRFU on January 22 itself, called for an annual general meeting of the governing body for February 21 at the Galle Face Hotel at 11 a.m.

"This is an illegal act on the part of Illyaz and those who are responsible. In fact, Illyaaz's appointment in the first instance is illegal and against the SLRFU Constitution which clearly states that an acting appointment could be made only at a General Committee meeting. In fact, one months notice has to be given and the annual report circulated. This has not been adhered to. Action will be taken against this illegal act," said the Chairman of the Interim Committee of the SLRFU,

Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, himself a former President of the SLRFU and a former Royal College, CR & FC and Sri Lanka player, who resigned from his post of Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) to head the Interim Committee of the SLRFU.

"DIG Nimal Lewke, who was President of the governing body, too resigned from his post. However, instead of sending it to the Council, he sent his letter of resignation to Minister Lokuge. It was not the Minister who appointed him. It was the Council", said Dr. Gunasekera, an eminent surgeon by profession, in a discussion with The Sunday Leader.

Dr. Guansekera further said that DIG Lewke has now found it fit to write stating to change the voting system at future AGM's of the SLRFU. He said, "It is similar to the idiom of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. After 23 months in office, DIG Lewke, has thought it fit to change the voting system, which brought him into power".

He further said that the previous Deputy President of the SLRFU, Asanga Seneviratne, has also written to state that the finances were "Well Managed." He said, "How Seneviratne says this now, I just cannot understand. He spoke differently when he held office. Kiran Atapattu, who is the Secretary as well as Treasurer of the Interim Committee and a very successful businessman at that, will scrutinise the accounts. We will be fair by everyone".

"There is no dispute about the eligibility criteria to hold office in the Council. Some were not eligible and I don't know how they were brought in. We will have to write to the Attorney-General's Department to get the interpretation of certain clauses in the SLRFU Constitution and whether we (the Interim Committee) could change it, particularly the voting system, as requested by all the Colombo clubs. We will consult our lawyers too on this matter" Dr. Gunasekera told The Sunday Leader.

He said that a former President of the SLRFU, Anton Benedict, a superb administrator himself, has been put in charge of this sub committee together with retired DIG Daya Jayasundera (A former Secretary of the SLRFU), Shane Dullewa and Trevor Nugawela.

Dr. Gunasekera further said that he had spoken to the International Rugby Board (IRB) Development Officer, Gallagher, and impressed upon him to send the usual IRB's annual grant of $ 70,000/- meant for development purposes.

"There is only Rs. 35 million in liquid cahs at the SLRFU. We will have to cut down on our expenses. There will only be one local 7's tournament this year scheduled for February 28 and March 1 at Longden Place organised by the CR & FC. They have agreed to find the sponsors and give five per cent to the Union. We have requested them (CR) to adacance the date by one week (Ferbaury 21 and 22) for the national selectors to pick a pool of about 25 players to be in training for the Hong Kong International 7's on March 27,28 and 29. Kandy SC wanted the Union to finance the 7's which was scheduled for Nittawela on February 7 and 8, but we don't have the money" said Dr. Gunasekera.

The national selectors who resigned in protest over Minister Lokuge's decision to include a player not in the original list approved by them (The Selectors) for the Asian Division I Tournament held in Chinese Taipei in November last year (2008) has decided to continue in office as the Minister had not accepted their resignations sent to the Minister on November 1. They are - Rohan Abeykoon (Chairman), Chaminda Rupasinghe, Rohantha Pieris, Hazim Mohamed and ASP Hafeel Marso.

The Asian division I Tournament is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from April 5 to 12.

The chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SLRFU, Lasitha Gunaratne, told The Sunday Leader that he was appointed by the Interim Committee, and will work on a volunteer basis without any payment involved for his services. It was Gunaratne who opened the "can of worms" regarding the SLRFU when he was a member of the NSC, from which he resigned in December last year (2008).

He said that Kandy Sports Club too has sent a letter to the Interim Committee to "Check on the finances" of the SLRFU.

The Interim Committee met on Wednesday (January 28) and appointed a Management Committee comprising of Dr. Maiya Gunasekera (Chairman), Kiran Atapattu (Secretary cum Treasurer), Lasitha Gunaratne (CEO), Priyantha Ekanayake, Michael Jayasekera, Group captain (Rtd) Nalin De Sivla, DIG (Rtd) Daya Jayasundera, Rohan Gunaratne, Samsan Jayasinghe, Hisam Abdeen, Imthi Marikar and Asoka Jayasena with the invitees being Anton Benedict, Dilory Fernando and Haris Omar.

The Sponsorship Committee comprises Dr. Maiya Gunasekara, Kiran atapattu, Lasitha Gunaratne, Priyantha Ekanayake and Michael Jayasekra, while the Match Organising and Tournament Committee comprises Iswan Omar, Wimal Senanayake, Marco de Sivla and a representative each from the 'A' Division clubs.

Dr. Gunasekera was adamant that the annual general meeting of the SLRFU will be "held soon."

Lokuge to appoint SLC Interim Committee after Indian tour

By Lal Gunesekera

Unless the Minister of Sports and Public Recreation,  Gamini Lokuge, decides to appoint an Interim Committee proper to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) very soon, the International Cricket Council (ICC), may not recognise the government run administration under a Competent Authority appointed by the Minister for a long period.

The Minister dissolved the Arjuna Ranatunga led Interim Committee just before Christmas last year and appointed his own Ministry Secretary, S. Liyanagama, as Competent Authority of SLC. Ranatunga did not last even a year as Chairman of SLC's Interim Committee, and has now filed a fundamental rights petition in the country's Supreme Court against his dismissal.

When the Ranatunga led Interim Committee was dissolved on December 23 last year, Minister Lokuge, said that he wil take a decision to appoint a new Interim Committee in a "Couple of weeks" or even go for an annual general meting to elect office-bearers to SLC.

But neither has taken place and the talk of the town is how logn the ICC wil continue to do business with the government run administration.

A similar problem faced the Pakistan Cricket Board till they appointed a President, Secretary etc.

"The present SLC administration under Liyanagam takes orders from the Minister. The others at SLC are all paid employees. The question is how competent is the Competent Authortiy was the opinion expressed by a senior official at the SLC, who wished to remain anonymous.

Minister Lokuge told The Sunday Leader that "everything will be sorted out very soon" and that the dealy was due to the Indian tour now in progress.

The Liyanagama led SLC at present has come into a lot of flak regarding TV deals,  inability of the Rangiri Dambula International Cricket Stadium to stage day/night matches and a hot of other issues.

Nimbus were granted TV rights for the five ODI's and one Twenty-20 game for the current Indian tour for just US$ 6 million, which would have usually brought in US$ 2.5 million per game with India. Earlier, SLC had to pay US$ 550 million as arbitration fees.

Now, Ten Sports, which is a subsidiary of the Taj Group of Companies, have secured the TV rights from SLC from 2009 to 2013 for Rs 65 milion. Taj is an ally that promotes the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and rivals the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has contracted several Sri Lanka cricketers.

The Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium too has been neglected with the floodlights not in working condition to conduct any day/night games. The first ODI against Indian on Wednesday (January 28) was a day affair.

Built at a cost of nearly Rs 650 million (Estimated cost was Rs. 140 million) during the stewardship of Tailanga Sumathipala, The Rangiri Dambulla Stadium built in the dry zone of the North Central Province in the 1990's could have hosted matches even went it rains in the rest of the country. The employees are paid Rs 130 lakhs a month as salaries.

A Board of Trustees too is to be appointed to SLC soon to handle the financial aspects as it seems to be "getting out of control" in recent times.

"Honourary" but draws per diem

By Lal Gunesekera

Persons who held office in the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) during the tenure of Arjuna Ranathunga, has claimed "per diem" during India's tour of Sri Lanka last year (2008) They were supposed to do a honourary job.

They include those in the Tour Organising Committee headed by a leading businessman who himself has approved the payments for 22 persons for two games at Dambulla stadium and also for the Test Match in Galle for which accomadation too was provided on bed and breakfast basis.

A sum of Rs 409.500/= was approved as "Per diem" for Dambulla and Rs 408,500/= for Galle.

Some of those who received the per  diem at Dambulla were Rajan Udeshi (Rs 18,000/=) Lakith Pieris (Rs 14,500/=) B.H.Perera (Rs 14,500/=) Shane Fernando (Rs 18,000/=) Chandana Amaradasa (Rs 21,500/=) Vikum Sriwardene (Rs 14,500/=) Two unidentified persons have been granted Rs 36,000/=

Then for the Test match at Galle Udesh has received Rs 20,500/= per diem, while among the others are Shane Fernando (Rs 20,500/=) Chandana Amaradasa (Rs 20,500/=) Vikum Siriwardene (Rs 13,500/=) Mrs Tharanga dias (Rs 13,500/=) and two unidentified persons Rs 13,500/= each

If they were doing an honourary job, was it correct for them to draw "per diem" ?

Malath Fernando elected President of Kandy Sports Club

Malath Fernando and Mahesh Weersinghe the newly elected President and Secretary of the Champion rugby Club "Kandy SC", promised to continue the good work done, by the out going President Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte and Secretary Iswan Omar. Both President and Secretary together with the Committee did a good job and helped the club to win all the tournaments, last season and they are hoping to do the same under the new committee.

Malath and Mahesh soon after the AGM last Sunday met the new committee, and wanted their fullest backing, and said give us the same support you all gave in the previous years. This time too the club is blessed with some of the countries best playes, and will be led by Pradeep Liyanage the 15's and Fazil Marija 7's.

Their regular coach Johan Taylor is expected to arrive on February 5, and till then, former player Nilufer Ibrhaim is handling the coaching.

  In the long and distinguished history of rugger in Kandy, many individuals have liberally contributed to the growth and development of this game. Battling against unrelenting odds, they have given their time, energy and wealth for the sustenance of the game. Some have sacrificed their professional interests to serve the cause of rugger, while other have pursued the game with almost religious fervor.

 The City fathers, MP's, Ministers, academics and professionals have mingled and moved amidst players, technocrats and the ordinary folk, to encourage and assist in the promotion and development of the game  in Kandy.  Along with me, I am sure the whole of Kandy will silently, but constantly remember them.

Malath and Mahesh speaking to The Sunday Leader, said that they will continue the good work done by the previous committee, both said that their present committee comprises mostly of  last year's members, who have given their best to the club and all have promised to give their  support this year too, to keep the game at its best.

Malath said that it is unbelievable what the Kandy Sports Club ruggerites have achieved in the past couple of years, every player has worked hard to win matches and trophies. Secretary Mahesh agreed with Malth's sentiments. They also had a high word for the fans who really helped them by cheering them in their games. If this time too the Committee  supports, then the running of affairs will be smooth.

Aside from the club affair, the Kandy SC administration under the leadership of Iswan Omar in the past ten years helped to prepare and organise one of the best tournaments in South Asia, the Singer - Sri Lankan Air Line Sevens.

One thing is certain,the Nitawella administration will face  a lot of new challenges in the months  ahead,  in the League and Knockout tournaments.   Today the biggest crowd for game is in Kandy and where ever Kandy SC plays.

All this was possible due to the backing given by Malik Samarawickrema,  who turned Kandy SC from a loosing side to a match winningside, and also not forgetting Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte who has given his best to the club.

Cricket - Inter-school U-19

Angelo Perera passes 1000 run mark

Skipper Angelo Perera's unbeaten century from 103 deliveries with four sixes and 17 boundaries which took him pass the one thousand run mark for the season coupled with a hattrick from Chatura Peiris helped St. Peter's College beat Maris Stella College Negombo outright by an innings and 110 runs in their inter school under 19 cricket tournament match concluded at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

Scores: Maris Stella: 166 and 92 (A. Silva 28 n.o, C. Peiris 4 for 26, V. Perera 2 for 18, A. Perera 2 for 13)

St. Peter's: 368 for 7 (A. Berenger 57, D. Perera 21, S. Ranasuriya 32, I. Peiris 32, A. Perera 155 n.o, A. Fernando 49 n.o, V. Dassanayake 3 for 93, D. Chameera 2 for 100)

Royal cruises to seventh win

Maneesha Thanthirgoda snapped up four wickets for 71 runs as Royal College cruised to their seventh outright victory this season while overcoming Dharmaraja College Kandy outright by an innings and 13 runs in their inter school under 19 cricket tournament match concluded at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Scores: Royal: 255

Dharmaraja: 64 and 178 (B. Ekanayake 31, R. Ekanayake 70, P. Silva 25, L. Randevala 3 for 27, M. Thanthirigoda 4 for 71)

Joes win by an innings

Skipper Shameera Weerasinghe took a matchbag of 13 wickets for 55 as St. Joseph's College trounced S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia by an innings and 26 runs in their 105th annual inter school cricket encounter concluded at Darley Road yesterday.

Scores: St. Joseph's: 248 S.

Thomas': 105 (F. Saleem 18, S. Kumarasinghe 21, C. Pathirana 29, S. Weerasinghe 6 for 28, R. Tatil 2 for 15) and 117 (F. Saleem 21, A. Fernando 32, S. Weerasinghe 7 for 27)

Cricket - Premier League - Tier 'A'

Colts certain of title

Colts CC made certain of heading the points table and winning the title while collecting vital first innings points over Baduraliya CC on the second day of their SLC Premier League Tier A tournament match continued at Havelock Park yesterday.

Scores: Colts CC: 426 and 22 for no loss

Baduraliya CC: 347 (D. Vitharana 48, U. Fernando 31, T. Sampath 47, N. Nonis 73, D. Arnolda 62, N. Bandaratilleke 28, P. Jayaprakash 25, C. Vaas 2 for 36, R. Weerasinghe 2 for 91, S. Weerakoon 3 for 101, R. Silva 2 for 22)

De Saram knocks unbeaten 141

Skipper Indika de Saram hammered an unbeaten 141 with half a dozen of sixes and eight boundaries as Ragama CC after conceding first innings points came back strongly to reach 244 for 5 in their second innings on day two of their SLC Premier League Tier A tournament match continued at Maitland Place yesterday.

Scores: Ragama CC: 155 and 244 for 5 (I. Daniel 62, I. de Saram 141 n.o, T. Kottahewa 2 for 37)

NCC: 158 (U. Chandana 33, D. Mapa 31, K. Weeraratne 4 for 41, D. Gamage 2 for 36, D. Daminda 3 for 61)

Bloomfield in easy innings win

Bloomfield who are vying for the runners up position completed the tournament with an easy innings and 130 run outright victory over Sri Lanka Army SC with more than a day to spare in their SLC Premier League Tier A match concluded at Panagoda yesterday.

Scores: Bloomfield: 161 and 226 (S. Jayantha 69, M. Ketapearachchi 44, T. Gunaratne 31, C. Jayasinghe 21, S. Prasanna 8 for 59, V. Weerakoon 2 for 79)