Two-year suspension awaits Chamara Vithanage

Crucial Council meeting of SLRFU on June 28

By Lal Gunesekara

RUGBY: Sri Lanka 7's captain and Kandy Sports Club's outstanding centre, Chamara Vithanage, may get a suspension of two years if the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee is ratified by the Council of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) at its monthly meeting on June 28.

Vithanage was accused of having assaulted referee Pradeep Fernando after the schools rugby match between Trinity and Kingswood at the Pallakelle Stadium a couple of weeks back.

The inquiry was scheduled for June 6, but Vithanage, had sent a medical certificate about his inability to attend it and the inquiry by the SLRFU Disciplinary Committee was postponed for last Wednesday (June 13). The Disciplinary Committee comprising SSP T.M.N. Hameed, Brigadier (rtd) Jupana Jayawardena and Brigadier Salley, went through the evidence of Wednesday and Thursday.

Referee Pradeep Fernando, who was injured and hospitalised, together with the two Touch Judges (Gerald Rasiah and Mohamed Irshad) had identified Vithanage as the culprit who assaulted referee Fernando. The Disciplinary Committee can suspend a player only for one month.

A spokesman for the SLRFU told the "Sunday Observer" that an old boy of Kingswood (Vithanage too is an old boy of the same school) accompanied by three lawyers had tried to gain entrance to the inquiry, but were disallowed.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is severe on indiscipline by players and officials. Recently, two TV commentators in Australia who had criticised the referee was suspended for six months.

Three weeks ago, Steve Landers ( a former international referee) now referee-manager of the England side who criticized a referee who requested to donate Sterling Pounds 1,500/= to the Tsumani fund of the IRB was removed from his post as referee-manager of England. England's coach was severely warned.

A few years back, a Fijian player who was turning out for CR & FC assaulted referee Aruna Jayasekera in a Club fixture against the Havelocks at Havelock Park, and the IRB suspended him (the Fijian) for three years.

Many reputed former national players and even officials of clubs and well known personalities, condemned Vithanage's assault on referee Pradeep Fernando, and commented that the SLRFU hand the player the maximum punishment as this was a bad example for young schoolboy players and this sort of behaviour has to be stopped at all cost, whoever is involved. Meanwhile, SLRFU's President Nimal Lewke, disclosed that a New Zealander will "blow" at the Caltex "A" Division League rugby match between Kandy and CR & FC to be played at Longden Place on July 1.