Chairman Rugby Selection Committee Rohan Abeykoon in a media release states that Rugby Interim Committee Chairman Dr. Maiya Gunasekere had requested other members of the selection committee to consider Pavithra Fernando at the time selectors were working towards picking Sri Lanka’s new rugby captain.

In the statement Abeykoon spells out the selection criteria for the captaincy and adds that Dilanka Wijesekere was definitely ahead of Fernando in most comparisons. He states that all selectors had unanimously decided to name Wijesekere as captain.

In the selection criteria mentioned in the release, one of the prime requirements for selection as captaincy is to be an automatic choice for the position the player plays in. Abeykoon states that Fernando wasn’t an automatic choice in the position he plays in.

The other points mentioned for consideration, for the captaincy are; command respect of the players by merit and having represented the country consecutively for the past three years.

Abeykoon also highlights the fact that Fernando had played club rugby since 2005 but hadn’t been selected by other selection committees to represent Sri Lanka till he was recalled to the national squad for the upcoming Asian Five Nations tournament, in Dubai.

He also states that he is disappointed over the fact that a case of nepotism had arisen again, despite assurances given to him that there would be no interferences unlike in the past.

Rugby Interim Committee Chairman Dr.Maiya Gunasekere responding to the statement from Abeykoon refused to accept that there was any interference to the work of the national selectors.

"No one has given anything in writing to the rugby selection committee as directives. So how can they make accusations that there was interference to their work. I only asked George Simpkins who would captain and he gave the names of Dilanka Wijesekere, Pavithra Fernando and Sean Wijesinghe as his choices and added he would like to see a forward captain the side. That’s it," Gunasekere said.

Responding to the complaint made against the name nominated by the rugby selectors as captain, Gunasekere said that the Sports Minister had sought the view of the National Selection Committee and acted accordingly. "I must mention that going by the sports law of the country, no appointment is confirmed till the Sports Minister puts his signature on it," he said.

Following an inquiry into the complaint, the National Selection Committee overruled the name proposed by the rugby selectors and nominated the name of Pavithra Fernando as captain.

According to Gunasekere, the Rugby Interim Committee is committed towards fielding a team for the Asian Five Nations in Dubai.

Sri Lanka will contest the Division 1 segment of the tournament where Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Arabian Gulf form the other teams.

Gunasekere said that new players had agreed to represent Sri Lanka for the Asian Five Nations and there names had been ratified by the Sports Minister.