President of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Mohan Balasuriya said the results gained by the Under-19 Youth Asiad team in China where they were ranked the fourth best in Asia was creditable and stressed people competent in their disciplines had chosen the squad.

"To be ranked the fourth best in Asia behind Korea, Japan and China is a commendable achievement", Balasuriya, told The Island on Wednesday.

"Even teams like Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have ended far behind us and it is a positive sign to see the juniors surging forward.

"I thought the selection was done by a competent panel who are specialists in their line of work and the results are there to be seen".

The two-member rugby selection committee comprises Dr Maiya Gunasekere as Chairman, and Chaminda Rupasinghe, a former Sri Lanka second row forward.

Sri Lanka led by the eldest son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, and S.Thomas' number eight, Namal Rajapakse, beat Thailand 16-7 in a first round fixture, before losing heavily to Korea (9-48) in the semi- finals and China (7-45) in the third place play-off final respectively.

Balasuriya, renowned for his forthright and outspoken views in the local rugby firmament, said he was not interested in comments made by the President, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, Ranjith Chandrasekere, to another newspaper that the schools' governing body was not consulted for their views ahead of the tour.

"I do not give a damn about what he (SLSRFA President) has to say.

"You see he should stick to what he is good at and that is to further the interests of his school.

"This criticism has been made no doubt with the backing of vested interests.

"Selections have been made by people who have played the game and well versed with the finer points of the game.

"For example they go on a technical basis and there is a host of issues taken into considerations such as the physical availability of players, how each player suits a particular position and how they could adapt to different conditions etc".

Ranjith Chandrasekera is the principal of Kingswood College, Kandy.

The SLRFU Chief said the SLSRFA President’s decision to go before the media to highlight his grievances ‘showed his maturity’, and wanted to know how many officials of the schools' ruling body had played the game at the highest level to direct vituperative comments at the SLRFU.

"This is all schoolmaster talk. Have they forgotten one of their officials also accompanied the squad to China?" he asked.

"So how can they say their views were not sought? These comments should not be taken seriously," Balasuriya said.

The former Sri Lanka, CR & FC and Trinity hooker, said he was ‘completely unaware’ of the involvement of ex-Sri Lanka scrum half and Police SC rugby star Sudath Sampath as the physiotherapist of the team, and added that without a formal complaint lodged he was unable to launch an inquiry.

"To be frank I am totally unaware of Sudath Sampath’s involvement`EE he noted.