SLRFU Council decides to contest injunction on Vithanage

By Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: The Council of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) which met last Friday (February 8) at its headquarter's at the old Race Course premises decided to contest the injunction in the Kandy courts which allowed Kandy Sports Club's centre Chamara Vithanage to play for his club this season.

He was suspended for two years by the SLRFU's Disciplinary Committee for assaulting referee Pradeep Fernando at the school's rugby match between Kingswood and Trinity at the Pallakelle Stadium on June 2 last year (2007) which was ratified by the SLRFU Council.

However, Vithanage, was successful in getting an injunction against his suspension earlier this year.

A spokesman for the SLRFU told the Sunday Observer last evening that the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association (SLRFA) were "very disappointed" about Vithanage getting a Court injunction on his suspension and posed the question about their security.It will be recalled that a Fijian player who turned out for the CR & FC in 2005 was suspended for life by the International Rugby Board (IRB) for assaulting referee Aruna Jayasekera in the second round game between CR & FC and Havelocks at Havelock Park.

Meanwhile, Kasun de Silva who represented Sri Lanka at the Singer Asiad staged in Colombo in November last year (2007) was suspended for three months by the IRB for taking marijuana which is a banned substance. His suspension takes effect from the day of the incident and could continue his rugby from February 21.

The official hearing by the IRB took place about two weeks back on "Conference Call" by IRB's Judicial sub-Committee comprising delegates from South Africa, Scotland, Australia and two from IRB which included the head of the Anti Doping Committee and an Attorney.

Sri Lanka were represented by the Chief Executive of the SLRFU, Dilroy Fernando, and Dr Seevali Jayawickreme of the Sports Medicine Unit of the Ministry of Sports. Kasun de Silva's legal representatives were Savantha de Saram and Jeewan Gunatilleke with the questioning taking over 1 1/2 hours.