Minister to call for fresh nominations?

By Shamseer Jaleel
According to a reliable source, the Minister of Sports, Navin Dissanayake will call for fresh nominations to appoint the new set of office-bearers at the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU).
Earlier it was speculated that an interim committee would be formed but due to the issues faced by Sri Lanka Cricket with full funding not being provided by the governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), rugby will not follow the same route with another interim body.
As it is understood either the ICC or world rugby’s governing body do not recognise such committees and funding could be withheld along with bans being slapped on participation in international tournaments as well as the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
Though the provincial unions backed the present SLRFU committee, none of them will be able to contest due to the four-year rule. President Asanga Seneviratne with his team members Vice President Lasitha Gunaratne and Secretary Nalin De Silva all have counted for more than four years holding on to any position at the SLRFU.
The Sri Lankan rugby team will tour the Philippines for the Asian Rugby Championship Division I encounter which also includes Singapore, Kazakhstan and hosts Philippines. Sri Lanka will meet Kazakhstan in the opening encounter. The national side, which is being guided by Kandy Head Coach Johan Taylor, will be selected at the end of this week.