National Women's rugby players take to refereeing

The only two women Rugby referees in Sri Lanka are Rukshani Ariyasena and Ruwini Deepika. The duo hail from Sabaragamuwa Province and are National Players of the women rugby team.

Both Rukshani and Ruwini Deepika had rendered great service by doing a magnificent job in refereeing as members of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR).

It was amazing to see these two young women who have a wealth of experience in Rugby since 2000, who had donned the Sri Lanka Jersey since 2003 giving their best to the SLSRFR.

Rukshani and Ruwini had officiated in many rugby tournaments in finals conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) as well as helping the Rugby tournaments conducted by SLRFU by rendering their services as touch judges.

Rukshani 26, the first woman referee in our country is a product of Atulugama Mayadunne Maha Vidyalaya (Dehiovita), who was also the first women's Captain in 2003 and toured Hong Kong for a sevens National tournament and did fairly well.

Ruwini Deepika 26, a product of Seethawaka National College, Awissawella who captained the National team in 2005, brought fame to our country by securing the Bowl Championship by beating Arabian Gulf 21-19 and thrashing the mighty Uzbekistan 24-0 under her captaincy at the Asian Women's Sevens Championship held in Kallang National Stadium, Singapore on 15th and 16th April, under the guidance of Hisham Abdeen, who also brought the first Bowl Trophy in 1984.

These two lasses thanked the K. V. Club, where the Rugby Development first started under the Chairman Development Committee SLRFU Y. C. Chang and Arjun Dharmadasa and now these two are right on top. Also they have not forgotten their coaches and Technical Officers B. K. Ramachandra, Beauty Gunaratna, K. S. P. Karunaratne and Priyantha Gunaratna.

Wimal Perera (President SLSRFR) said that Referee Rukshani and Ruwini will be promoted to B/3 level referees during the Annual General Meeting which will be held end of this year. Both Rukshani & Ruwini are attached to the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps.