SriLankan Airlines prefer International Rugby 7’s be shifted to Colombo

By Lal GUNASEKERA

RUGBY: SriLankan Airlines have agreed to be one of the main sponsors, but prefer that the 10th Singer-SriLankan Airlines International Rugby 7’s scheduled to be worked off on September 5, 6 and 7 is staged in Colombo and not at Nittawela.

The President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). DIG Nimal Lewke, told the ‘Sunday Observer’ that the new management of SriLankan Airlines have basically agreed to be a part of the Kandy Sports Club organised international 7’s, but prefer it to be held in Colombo.

Lewke said that he had a “chat” with Nishantha Wickramasinghe (Director of SriLankan Airlines), and was told that the airline must get the maximum milage from this event as they spend “a massive sum of money” on the return airline tickets for all participating teams.

He further said that the SLRFU has appointed a committee headed by its Deputy President, Asanga Seneviratne, which also includes Iswan Omar (Chairman of the Organising Committee of the International 7’s) to discuss various matters with the two principal sponsors - Singer and SriLankan Airlines.

Lewke said that a crucial meeting with Singer is to take place tomorrow (Monday) and Singer too will have to agree on the venue (Colombo or Nittawela). He said “If they can stage it in Nittawela it’s good, but we will have to wait and see. Even Emirates who managed SriLankan Airlines earlier wanted the event to be held in Colombo one year and the next in Kandy.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SLRFU, Dilroy Fernando told the ‘Sunday observer’ that they (the SLRFU) could “get down the teams”, but the only question is the security concerns shown by the overseas teams.

He said that the SLRFU were answerable to all the monies that go through them, but Kandy Sports Club have not “given a proper breakdown” of the monies spent.

The IRB allocates Rs. 9 million and Singer Rs. 9 million for this three-day event, while Sri Lankan Airlines too gives hellava lot on the return air tickets.

According to the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Iswan Omar, only three countries (China, Chinese Thaipe and India) have confirmed participation as well as host country Sri Lanka.

The organisers have now given time upto May 10 for the other nine countries (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Arabian Gulf - the top five in Asia, together with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and debutants Iran) to confirm.

The Kandy Sports Club organised Singer-SriLankan Airlines International 7’s started in 1999 and received IRB status in 2005, but the IRB withdrew their Satellite status this year and instead accorded it to Hong Kong, which is an Asian qualifier for the 2009 World Cup 7’s.

Last year (2007), Hong Kong beat South Korea 37-5 to win the Cup category after beating Sri Lanka 21-14 in the semi-finals. Earlier, Sri Lanka beat Kampuchea 47-0, Kazakhstan 28-14, Thailand 36-7 and lost to South Korea 10-33. China won the Plate beating Thailand 34-0 and India the Bowl beating Kampuchea 36-5.