By Callistus Davy
Disgusting news of a junior rugby player of St. Peter’s College in Colombo subjected to one of the most sordid acts of sexual brutality has left many parents frowning on the school while others who are familiar with secrets at elite boys schools claim they are not surprised at the rot.
Either way a time bomb was waiting to explode and it did, when a most brave parent exposed the hidden filth at the school after his son became the victim at the hands of a very senior player or players.
Despite the incident doing the rounds on social media, the school in a major cover up withdrew the team from the ongoing tournament causing more disgrace to a school founded on sacred values and religious convictions by European missionaries.
Any other school that prides itself on discipline would have sacked, if not suspended the player or players involved and brought in replacements and continued the tournament in the name of sport and in fairness to the others who practiced and trained.
In withdrawing, St. Peter’s College lost its credibility among the schools in the rugby arena, while the hierarchy of the school left room to bring what was left of its reputation the zero. No more proof is needed that St. Peter’s College was too afraid to discipline the offending players who were allowed to outgrow the sport and the school that raises the question, who really is responsible for the affairs of the school’s rugby set up where morals have lost its place.
It will be interesting to find out what action the so-called tournament committe of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Footballl Association (SLSRFA) will take against a team that withdraws from its tournaments.
By withdrawing St. Peter’s College has admitted it is unable to enforce discipline at a school where in the past non Christian parents craved to admit their children for the values it cherished and the conviction it stood for.
Today, St. Peter’s rugby can no longer boast of legends like Archibald Perera and has come under the dominance and influence of outsiders who are calling the shots.
The biggest fear is that a new kind of culture and tradition has taken over St. Peter’s College where past players who wore the blue,white and gold striped jersey with distinction and passed through its hallowed gates can only frown upon in silence as relics of the past with no say in the internal affairs of the school.
To some old boys currently calling the shots at the school, rugby is everything and that’s the biggest tragedy.
Praying out in the open after a match in full view of spectators is one thing and doing the opposite behind closed doors is another.
The Peterites in recent years have abused everything that came their way. They never had a bad Press, they have the best collection of sponsors and commercial godfathers along with one of the best coaches.
They left out one thing from their training camp that turned into a summer camp and that was some toys for the big babies to play with in their free time, so that some other mother’s son could have been spared.
I think that the correct decision was made.
Discipline cannot be compromised at any stage, and besides this unruly incident took place at a camp where all the 1st fifteen team was housed in. So there is a story of one minor been bullied by maybe two or three elders but the others should also take the blame for aiding and abetting the situation by jumping on the bandwagon and enjoying the fun.
The nails are beginning to pop from the coffins. This is only ONE school . What of the others? Is this what parents can expect from ‘hallowed institutions?’
Whatever muscles they flex what must be remembered is that they are still children ..their brains are still developing. The parents who discovered the dirty linen needs protection as the child. Other children must not target him.
Calistus seems to be on a separate mission to poke at the wounded soldier!!!! The school pulled out because there’s a inquiry in to the incident thats happening now. If something of the nature that calistus is greedily devouring here has taken place, then definitely the culprits will be sacked. But what Calistus has forgotten is that there’s always three sides to the story. The victim who was at the limited over match attacked another 16yr old player while at SSC and apparently the parents have lodged a complaint at colombo 7 police.
Give the school time till the 8th May and if nothing happens then, take them to task. That’s the far thing to do right ? Also, if the outcome/ truth is not to your satisfaction,.. tthere’s nothing that anyone can do.
Let justice prevail. 🙏
Sack those who were involved and move on….!!
Need to take legal action & sent both players behind bars. Should give life ban.
Action should take against Rector giving permission to import players fm other schools.
Rector wants Only Trophies
Need to take legal action & sent both players behind bars. Should give life ban.
Action should take against Rector giving permission to import players fm other schools.
Rector wants Only Trophies
I agree on this statement! Rector and his puppets Must question and send them behind bars!!!
Agreed…..!!
Dialog money has fuelled a frenzy. Rabid old boys with small lives desperate for vicarious glory. Overpaid coaches desparate to win at any cost. A booming supplements industry with terrible long term health impact. It has created the most systematic and structured culture of violent child abuse and cover up. For the Catholic church it’s another day at the office. Dr Tush Wickremanayake, the NCPA and Child protection NGOs – the silence is deafening.
This is just one incident that was brought to light out of many that were not. We need to understand the root cause of why students are behaving in this manner. The values are shifting away from the core values of the school. Who is responsible for this change, and why are the governing bodies of each sport not taking action? Judgments may be passed and actions may follow, but the real underlying issue remains unaddressed.
This is just one incident that was brought to light out of many that were not. Social media is a dangerous platform that anything could change upside-down. We need to understand the root cause of why students are behaving in this manner.. and why only him and where were the other students and what was the masters incharged doing at that moment. at any time frame they should know his whereabouts… this has to be handled in a manner where any student is not mentally affected.
There is no coverup. We are transparent. If there is an incident there should be a proper investigation. If we are at wrong we take blame and punishment. But I do not like authors of you telling that we should field players when our Rector has suspended the whole team.
That type of unintelligent comments degrades telegraph
Dilarnm.gm@gmail.com
Christie and flaver come to mind
Give Hamza his pacifier before he starts throwing his toys from his crib, after all the insults he hurled against all schools for decades he’s got his tail between his buns, karma is indeed a 8itch!
SLSRFA Should suspended them for 2 years for withdrawing and also relegate them to Group C, they can earn their respect and work their way up if they are truly apologetic for tarnishing the reputation of the competition and the sport!
SLSRFA set an example and send a strong message to all so this behavior is not condoned,
අනෙ පලයං බං… trying to make hay while the sun shines!! What is your school?? If you have the guts tell us. We will tell you what y’all are hiding.
Why would you punish the whole school when only few are being questioned? Is that the only way you can creep in to the top division boy???
It is you who punished the school by not letting the rest of the hard working kids take the field, why ? scared of losing ? shame on you! the kids follow their peers not surprised where the offenders got their skills, be men cop it on the chin take the punishment deal with the issue ethically offer a public apology to the victim and the family, rest of the schools and the greater rugby followers! if not go hide under alter or a cassock and rot in the canal! Taking the forum to justify with no regard for the poor boy! SHAME!
Even the coaches and the master in charge should bare responsible for the incident that took place if they are organizing a camp they should make sure of the safety of player’s and make sure ragging is not happening it’s a limited set of boys and it’s very easy to keep an eye on them. It’s an eye opener for all leading schools for outsourcing boys from other schools without a proper background just to win matches by putting the schools reputation into jeopardy. And for coaches who has no care for the wellbeing of the players they only want them to win no matter what they don’t care about discipline and honor.
Your last sentence is an unintelligent comment.
My heart breaks for the young, talented player who is going through all of this, and his wellbeing is the most important factor in this situation. The majority of Peterites, if not all of them, concur that the offenders should be punished appropriately, but only after a thorough investigation. Discipline in school sports teams is paramount, and the culture created within these institutions needs to be seriously looked at while fostering values that are consistent with those of the school.
However, I take issue with this being termed as a cover-up without mention of the scheduled inquiry. We can judge once the inquiry is complete. A major decision like the expulsion of 18-year-old kids from school should only be made with all the facts in place. This is very irresponsible and poor writing from a senior journalist like Mr. Callistus Davy who it seems is intent on playing judge, jury and executioner.
Don’t blame the messenger. He is only reporting and not providing his opinion.
This is nothing new but just the tip of the iceberg. This has been going on at all of the top schools for way too long. Hold the Schools and the culprits accountable and protect this kid from any future harm.
St Peter’s is a great school .
Gave us cabraal , duminda and now paedophiles.
Must be the Wellawatte canal water they swim in .
this is what happens when Bayyas come to “reputed” schools.
Agree with the article, they should have respected the comp and put forward 15 players even if it means players from the Second XV side, the comp and game is bigger than any school, not that they don’t have players to field just pure arrogance getting trophies and winning games are more important to these old boys than putting a smile on the hard working kids by letting them take the field, i say suspend them demote them for bringing the game and comp to disrepute,
Indeed a sad day for my college but we hold values and discipline above else and it’s the correct decision to withdraw from the knockout tournament. Some say argue why not remove the culprits only but the fact remain this happened during weekly camps prior to matches which the whole squad stay together. So someone should have objected and I don’t know whether any did.
The article is of poor taste as he is one person who will always put down a Colombo school and it has been his style even when I was playing for college. Let him have his satisfaction as that’s his weakness his cup of enjoyment.
True that the values have eroded as the people around rugby nowadays are non players who do it not just for love but to fulfill their inner need. Sadly they dominate the scene and not giving the correct people to run the programmes which knows the values and the passion of representing the Blue White and Gold jersey!
While ravens are many here with comments to put down college, check your own schools also as skeletons are many.
Winning at all cost should not be a theme! Hope this situation, even though it pain me as it’s my college, will enable to ensure more discipline and not allow so called camps to take place without proper supervision.
This article is so biased that for a minute I thought it was someone whining because he wasn’t given admission to St Peters.