Sri Lanka Rugby’s forwards coach Dushantha Lewke skipped travelling with the national team to Hong Kong opting to rather stay back and coach Royal College in their game played against St. Joseph’s College, fueling criticism over elite favoritism, school loyalties, and accountability within Sri Lanka Rugby. Here’s what happened.
Sri Lanka Rugby’s national forwards coach Dushantha Lewke has landed himself at the center of a growing controversy after reportedly choosing to stay back in Colombo to coach Royal College in their high-profile match against St. Joseph’s College while the national team had already departed for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Hong Kong.
Lewke, who also serves as the Head Coach of Royal College, was absent during the team’s early travel arrangements and instead flew out to Hong Kong on a China Eastern Airlines flight at 10:00 PM last night. His absence from the squad’s initial departure has sparked outrage among critics who question the wisdom and ethics of prioritizing school-level commitments over national duty.
The criticism is made more scathing by the fact that Sri Lanka’s national team recently lost a tightly contested World Cup qualifier to South Korea, a match where the forwards were widely blamed for underperforming. Critics argue that if there was ever a time for the coaching team to unite, analyze weaknesses, and fix structural issues this was it. Yet, Lewke’s delayed travel, seen as an elitist privilege, has left many questioning the direction Sri Lanka Rugby is heading in.
What makes matters murkier is the silence from top authorities who previously had no hesitation in pointing fingers. National Sports Council Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake had publicly lambasted the selectors and coaching staff earlier this year, particularly after the Sri Lanka team lost both matches against the visiting New Zealand Under-85 kg side. That string of criticism was reportedly a factor in the resignation of then-national head coach Sanath Martis, who stepped down in disgust from his unpaid, voluntary role.
Ironically, it was Ekanayake alongside a known associate namely Imthi Marikkar who were instrumental in bringing in a foreign Kiwi coach at a compensation package still cloaked in secrecy. Critics are now asking: Why the selective outrage?
Even more troubling are allegations that this culture of preferential treatment provided to Lewke by NSC Chairman Ekanayake, was in his quest to curry favor with the current composition of the Sri Lanka Rugby Working Task Force, which is said to be led by an Old Royalist and includes two more Royal College alumni among its five members. The question now gaining traction: Was Lewke granted leeway because of school loyalties and old-boy networks?
Is Dushantha Lewke the only capable forwards coach in the entire country? Are there not equally skilled backs coaches who could have been deployed to fix the glaring issues that cost Sri Lanka their South Korea game?
Regardless of the answers, the optics are disturbing. Once a coach is entrusted with national responsibility, the expectation is to put country first not a personal employer, no matter how prestigious. In a sporting culture struggling for accountability and professionalism, this incident serves as yet another reminder of how school allegiances and insider privilege can still trump national pride.
A Coach’s Loyalty. To School or Country?
Much has been said about Lewke choosing not to travel with the national team to Hong Kong for their build up and preparations joining them only on match day. Reports suggest he stayed back to coach his school team for an inter-school fixture, which pays him significantly more than the national setup. Some might argue that’s fair, he’s prioritizing the job that pays better.
But let’s look at the other side.
If he couldn’t fully commit to the national team, the respectful and professional decision would have been to step aside, just as backs coach Saliya Kumara did. A half hearted presence isn’t just unfair to the players. It’s unfair to the country.
Lewke was also absent during the second game of the New Zealand U85kg series in Kandy, opting instead to remain in Colombo for a school match against a relatively weak opponent. The question is: why was he retained for the Asian Championship despite such a visible lack of commitment?
For years, Lewke has held a prominent place in Sri Lankan rugby both as a player and a coach. His rise, including being appointed national captain while his father served as president of Sri Lanka Rugby, has not been without controversy. But as the game evolves, so must our standards. It’s time we prioritise commitment and merit over connections.
Sri Lanka Rugby deserves better.