The appointments of NSC Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake and NSC Member Rohan Abeykoon to the five-member Task Force are not only ethically questionable but also legally invalid
Colombo, May 23, 2025 – In a dramatic turn in the ongoing overhaul of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has come under fire for a significant procedural error in his latest gazette notification by appointing individuals in apparent violation of the very Sports Law he is bound to uphold.
The controversy surrounds the five-member Task Force named in the Extraordinary Gazette dated May 22, 2025, which was tasked with managing Sri Lanka Rugby and overseeing constitutional reforms mandated by World Rugby. Among those appointed were National Sports Council (NSC) Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake and NSC Committee Member Rohan Abeykoon, alongside SDIG (Rtd) M.R. Latiff (Chairman), National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramaniam, and President’s Counsel Dinal Phillips.
However, legal experts and senior sports officials have pointed out that the inclusion of two sitting NSC members directly contradicts provisions under the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, which prohibits individuals involved in the administration or oversight of multiple national sports bodies from holding dual governance roles.
The error has sparked criticism of the Ministry’s due diligence and raised questions about the transparency and legality of the restructuring process.
Reliable sources within the Ministry of Sports have confirmed that a corrective gazette notification is now being prepared, which will formally remove both Ekanayake and Abeykoon from the Task Force.
Ravi Wijenathan, a respected sports administrator with prior involvement in rugby affairs, and DIG (Rtd) Hafeel Marso, a double international who represented the country in rugby and basketball and who was also a seasoned law enforcement officer, are widely tipped to replace the duo in the revised Task Force lineup.
The initial appointment was part of a sweeping move by Minister Gamage to suspend the registration of Sri Lanka Rugby, dissolve the authority of the Competent Authority Shemal Fernando, and appoint a transitional committee to implement the new SLR constitution.
While the intention to reform rugby governance has been welcomed by many, this legal blunder now threatens to cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the entire process, raising concerns over whether political expedience is once again interfering with sports governance.
Despite being unaware of the very laws he is entrusted to uphold, Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has earned some credit for acknowledging the oversight and moving swiftly to correct it. However, it’s his advisory team that may deserve a proverbial slap on the wrist, having left the Minister exposed to a rather public and avoidable embarrassment. It is yet to be established whether this blunder was a result of sheer negligence or a calculated move to embarrass or even humiliate the Minister himself
The Ministry has yet to issue an official statement on the upcoming revisions, but a fresh gazette is expected shortly.
I am happy with the appointment of Marso as he will do lots of good things with his experience and sound knowledge.
We could say the minister is new and has no knowledge of the sports law but the individuals who were appointed should have simply know it was north ethical for em to hold both positions and refused or resigned. This clearly shows the political motivation of all these individuals. Now the rugby fans and people should calm for the dismissal of the NSC as the chairman is engaged in the world rugby Fijian fine of £ 50 000 as he at the time of being the CEO of SLR has sent a mail asking world rugby to deduct from the development funds £ 5,000 every year. Where as as a CEO he should have had an inquiry and asked the SLRFU office bearers under the Presidency of Asanga Seniviratna to pay the fine as all of them had a hand to this criminal activities. It is now learnt that all sports laws are going to be changed just to accommodate the same people to SLR and for Mr Asanga Seniviratna to be nominated by SLR for the position of Asia Rugby President this is the drama what’s going on.