Amid the ongoing controversy over the appointment of foreign referees, Lady Sunny Lee and Francisco Camissa who were initially nominated to officiate the high-profile school rugby clashes between Isipathana and S. Thomas’ College, and Trinity vs. Royal College will now in all probability have to watch the matches from the stands as spectators rather than officials. This follows a firm directive from the Sri Lanka Rugby Working Task Force to the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, which reaffirmed that all decisions must strictly adhere to the protocols established during a meeting held on the 24th of April 2025 in order to maintain consistency, fairness, and full compliance with agreed regulations.
A deepening controversy has emerged ahead of two of the most anticipated school rugby matches of the season, Isipathana vs. S. Thomas’ College and Trinity College vs. Royal College scheduled for Saturday, July 5, as efforts to introduce foreign referees have sparked serious procedural and regulatory concerns.
In what appears to be a calculated move, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) Secretary D.W.M. Nimmana has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education seeking approval for the use of foreign referees. However, the letter is being described as misleading, as it omits key conditions that had earlier been clearly stipulated by Director General of Education, Shemal Fernando.
In response to an initial request by Nimmana, DG Shemal Fernando had outlined several criteria that needed to be satisfied before any foreign referees could be approved. Among them were obtaining formal approval from the Ministry of Education, securing the consent of both participating schools, gaining the endorsement of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), and ensuring strict adherence to the tournament rulebook. Crucially, Nimmana’s subsequent letter to the Ministry of Education reportedly excluded mention of all these other conditions, raising serious questions about intent and transparency.
This isn’t the first time the matter of foreign referees has been addressed. On April 24, 2025, during an official meeting, it was agreed that foreign referees could only officiate in traditional or friendly fixtures between schools, and only if all relevant clauses were met. That position was reaffirmed in writing by SLR Working Task Force Chairman, SDIG (Rtd) M.R. Latiff, in a letter dated July 1, 2025 to the SLSRFA Sec D.W.M Nimmana. In the letter, Latiff specifically referred to Rule 15.3 of the SLSRFA Tournament Rule Manual, stressing that the SLSRFA must strictly follow the protocols established in the April meeting to ensure consistency, fairness, and compliance.
Despite this, the situation took a surprising turn when it was revealed that the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) had already named two local referees Ishanka Abeykoon and Raveen Alexander to officiate the two high-stakes Dialog Schools League matches: Abeykoon for Isipathana vs. S. Thomas’ and Alexander for Trinity vs. Royal.
However, in what many see as an outright violation of the agreed protocols, the respective school authorities have independently nominated foreign referees by name for their respective matches. Sunny Lee has reportedly been chosen by the schools to officiate Isipathana vs. S. Thomas’, while Francisco Camissa is expected to referee the Trinity vs. Royal fixture.
A word of caution looms for the four prestigious schools who, despite their rich rugby legacies, appear surprisingly uninformed on the administrative protocols governing such matters. Should they proceed with fielding foreign referees for these official league matches, it could prove to be an ill-advised decision. The Sri Lanka Rugby Working Task Force has made it clear that it will enforce the rule book strictly potentially leading to the annulment of match results and the loss of valuable league points.
Adding to the procedural confusion, the Citing Commissioner, Wimal Senanayake who heads the panel of citing officers under SLR has appointed Vimal Perera as the citing officer for the Isipathana vs. S. Thomas’ game. This appointment appears to be made with the understanding that the foreign referee proposed by the schools will officiate the match, which directly contradicts the protocols and approvals set by Sri Lanka Rugby at the 24th of April 2025 meeting.
What makes the situation even more contradictory is that just days ago, on July 2, 2025, an official meeting was held involving SLSRFA Secretary Nimmana, SLSRFA representatives Mr. Wijerama, Kosala, and Dinesh, along with members of the SLARFR assignment committee. During this meeting, the appointments of local referees Abeykoon and Alexander for the two key matches were formally confirmed.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the controversy threatens to overshadow the spirit of competition and integrity of the tournament. With unsanctioned actions now potentially compromising the official status of these flagship games, pressure is mounting on the relevant authorities to uphold transparency, restore order, and ensure that school rugby adheres to the very standards it claims to promote.
Meanwhile, an online report has pointed fingers at Dilroy Fernando as the central figure behind the unfolding referee controversy. A well-known name in Sri Lankan rugby circles and now affiliated with Asia Rugby, Fernando is said to have orchestrated the arrival of elite foreign referees with the backing of Asia Rugby and the host schools. According to the report, this initiative, while framed as an effort to uplift officiating standards and provide young local players with international-level exposure was funded through airfares covered by Asia Rugby and hospitality provided by the schools. The inclusion of officials such as Sunny Lee and Francisco Cammisa was also portrayed as a step toward promoting professionalism and gender inclusivity in school rugby, further cementing ties between Sri Lankan rugby and global governing bodies.
