Inter-school League and President Trophy K-O tourneys will be conducted - Punyadasa Kuruppu

RUGBY: Principal of Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya, Punyadasa Kuruppu was elected as the new President of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the main auditorium of the Isipathana Vidyalaya last Wednesday (Jan. 14).

Punyadasa Kuruppu speaking to Sunday Observer stated that he was confident of conducting the major domestic inter-school League and the President's Trophy Knock-Out Tournaments, sans a hitch with the support of his new committee.

Kuruppu, noted that the biggest challenge for his Committee would be to coax all leading schools to compete in the Milo President's Trophy Knock-Out tourney which has been badly affected in recent years with most schools spurning the chance to contest the tournament citing examinations. The new SLSRFA President was of the opinion that his body was confident of staging the Under-20 League Tournament from April to June before winding up the season with the President's Trophy Knock-Out in early July if their plans go smoothly.

Asked if there was any truth to the suggestion that their flagship sponsor for years - Singer Sri Lanka, the main sponsor of the League, were planning to opt out of the sponsorship in view of the current global economic downturn, he bushed it aside and said that the tournaments will go on.

The Isipathana MV Principal added that Singer Sri Lanka has not even officially intimated to his Association about such a move, and he said that he was hopeful the leading sports promoter would keep up to their `word' and honour the sponsorship agreement in 2009. Kuruppu further said that even if Singer Sri Lanka were to leave the SLSRFA in the lurch, there were no concerns of losing out on sponsors as he had already spoken to the People's Bank and new mobile phone connections supplier the Indian firm Air Tel, with the latter being particularly interested in contributing to Sri Lanka schools rugby.

The 2009 inter-school rugby season is all set to `kick-off' on February 28 with the commencement of the Under-20 All Island Singer Inter-School Seven-a-Side Rugby Tournament. It is to be followed by the Under-20 All Island Signer 15-a-Side Division One and Two Inter-School Tournament which is to be held from April 20 to June 7.

The Milo President's Trophy Inter-School Knock-Out Tournament for Division One will be worked off between June 15 to July 4 this year.

The newly elected SLSRFA Committee for 2009

President - Punyadasa Kuruppu (Principal Isipathana MV), Deputy President - J.G. Amarajeewa (Principal, Lumbini MV), Secretary - Kumara Rodrigo (Ananda College).

Vice Presidents - Asokha Hewage (Principal D.S. Senanayake College), Lal Dissanayake (Acting Principal, Ananda College), Lakshman de Silva (Principal Moratu MV), T.K. Asoor (Principal, Zahira College), S.M. Keerthiratne (Principal, Dharmaraja College), Sarathchandra Silva (Principal, Panadura Royal College), Bandula Jayasinghe (Principal, Devapathiraja MV, Rathgama).

Treasurer - A.B. Dodanwela (St. Sylvester's College).

Tournament Committee Secretary - Gamini Sarathchandra (Isipathana MIC).

JK