by Ravi Nagahawatte
The Sri Lanka Rugby Referees’ Society (SL-RRS) is planning to meet the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) and resolve a disagreement which has arisen between the two organisations, due to the sports governing body overuling a nomination made by them for the forthcoming Asian Junior Rugby Championship, in Japan.

According to Nimal Lewke, president of the SLRRS, Aruna Jayasekara, whom they nominated for the tournament, has been overlooked for another referee, apparently not a member of the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) panel of referees.

Jayasekara had been nominated along with the names of two other referees as second and third preferences.

The SLRFU’s choice has been Shamrath Fernando, a referee who doesn’t hold the required qualifications to blow in IRB run international tournaments.

"What is the use of a referee going abroad and qualifying himself if he isn’t given exposure. The SLRFU has power. But if they didn’t like our choice they should have referred back to us on the issue. Jayasekara was nominated after having consultations with many trained assessors" said Lewke.

An official of the SLRFU when contacted said that they(SLRFU) made the choice after considering the three nominations sent to them by the SLRRS.

However, he said that the SLRFU has so far received no complaints on the issue and they will not reverse their decision in sending Fernando on the tour.