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by LAL GUNESEKERE

Three leading rugby coaches - S. W. Chang, Ananda Kasturiaratchi and M. D. Ifthikar, with proven track records at national level are now in the wilderness and it's the duty of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to disclose to the general public the reasons behind the so-called two-year "suspension" on them which is scheduled to end in June next year (2003).

The drama began in Santiago, Chile in April last year (2001) at the under-19 World Cup. Chang was the manager, Kasturiaratchi the coach and Ifthikar the assistant coach. The 26 players who were in the side decided to gift US dollars 50 each to the two coaches from the monies they received as compensation for misplaced baggage from the airline concerned. On their return to Colombo, a complaint had been made to the SLRFU stating that the Manager (S. W. Chang) had not given the compensation money to the players.

Chang was told by the President of the SLRFU, Commodore Harsha Mayadunne, to return the money to the 26 players. Then, the two coaches (Kasturiaratchi and Ifthikar) gave the money to the players. Twenty-two of the 26 players concerned refused to accept the money as it was a gift to the two coaches and Chang had signed documents from these 22 players to prove it.

The drama did not end here. The SLRFU decided to appoint a "Fact Finding Committee" comprising of Lal Silva (Treasurer as Chairman), Dr. Maiya Gunasekera and Shane Dullawa (then Secretary of SLRFU). They interviewed the players first, and fixed another date to interview the three officials.

Chang was interviewed for about five hours till the wee hours of the morning. it was a friendly discussion says Chang, who further said that only the players from Colombo were interviewed. He says, "one key witness to the discussion that took place in Chile where it was decided to gift US Dollars 50 each to the two coaches was not called upon to give his story".

The recommendation of the Fact Finding Committee to the SLRFU Council was to severely "warn the manager", but at a Council meeting on May 31, 2001, a decision was taken that the manager and two coaches should not be considered for any future SLRFU assignments for a period of two years from June 1, 2001. This Council decision has not been conveyed to either Chang, Kasturiaratchi or Ifthikar. Upto date, there has been no communication from the SLRFU about this so-called "suspension", although Chang as manager has requested from the SLRFU by letter dated June 18, 2001 about the position regarding the three concerned personnel. The minutes of the SLRFU Council meeting of June 29, 2001 states that Chang's letter has been received and that this particular letter has been sent for legal advice. Now it's November 2002, and it seems that the SLRFU are yet awaiting legal advice to reply to Chang's letter of June 2001.

The funny part of the whole affair was when Chang received a letter from the SLRFU on March 15, 2002 stating that he (Chang) had been unanimously appointed to the Tournament and Match Arrangement Committee of the SLRFU by its Council. This committee comprises Mohan Balasuriya, Major General Krishnaratne, Neil Wijeratne, Chaminda Rupasinghe, Air Commodore Channa Guneratne, Iswan Omar, Rohan Abeykoon, Arjun Dharmadasa and representatives of clubs and national coach. Since then (March 2002), Chang has attended all the meetings, and no questions have been raised regarding his two-year suspension which ends in June next year (2003).

He has also been nominated by the Referees Society to be their representative in the Tournament Committee.

There is more. Chang has been informed that at the last Council meeting of the SLRFU, that his name had been proposed to some coaching panel, and that the President of the SLRFU, Commodore Mayadunne had informed the Council that Chang is yet under suspension and cannot be considered.

If Chang is under suspension, how can he serve on the Tournament and Match Arrangement Committee? Chang has also been told that the Sports Council has been informed by the SLRFU that after an inquiry, the manager (Chang) to Chile has been found guilty of retaining the money due to the players and that he (Chang) has been suspended.

A Fact Finding Committee cannot take the responsibilities of a Disciplinary Committee. There has been no disciplinary inquiry against Chang and the two coaches so far, and the Council of the SLRFU has acted unconstitutionally to suspend Chang, Kasturiaratchi and Ifthikar.

The former Minister of Sports, Lakshman Kiriella, wanted the suspension on the three persons withdrawn by the SLRFU. This did not happen. Now it's left for the present Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando to intervene and order the SLRFU to life this "suspension" with immediate effect and let justice prevail.

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