Sri Lanka Rugby’s newly appointed Working Task Force (SLR WTF) has been operating with quiet but growing authority, tackling a range of critical responsibilities from having to organize the Annual General Meeting and overseeing elections to spearheading long-overdue constitutional reforms. But amid these high-level duties, it has also had to contend with distractions, petty disruptions caused by individuals attempting to exert influence from beyond the organization’s formal boundaries.
The latest such disruption emerged from Asia Rugby’s Referees Manager, Dilroy Fernando. Known for his active involvement in flying down foreign referees to officiate local matches with Asia Rugby’s blessing, Fernando had previously brought overseas officials for the prestigious Bradby Shield between Royal and Trinity, a traditional fixture not under the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) and hence considered less of a procedural violation.
However, this year Fernando pushed further. In a surprising move, four of the country’s most storied rugby schools namely Trinity, Royal, Isipatana, and S. Thomas’ sent a joint letter requesting foreign referees for certain league matches. This letter was directed to the SLSRFA Secretary D.W.M Nimmana, who sought Fernando’s help to fulfill the request.
That’s where the situation veered into controversy.
The request blatantly sidestepped administrative protocols. These league games are not friendlies; they are official fixtures under the SLSRFA, which itself falls under Sri Lanka Rugby and ultimately the Ministry of Sports. By contrast, schools fall under the Ministry of Education. This dual-jurisdiction has long been a source of tension in Sri Lankan sports administration, particularly in cricket and rugby.
Adding to the complexity, Dilroy Fernando is legally barred from holding any position in Sri Lanka Rugby due to a conflict of interest: his business in sports goods violates Sri Lanka’s Sports Law. Yet, he has maintained unofficial influence from his position within Asia Rugby, a broader trend where Sri Lankan nationals embedded in regional governing bodies attempt to influence domestic sports matters from afar.
This time, however, Fernando’s maneuver backfired.
The SLR WTF, led by retired Senior DIG M.R. Latiff, categorically rejected the use of foreign referees for any official league or knockout games under the SLSRFA. A meeting held on April 24, 2025, led by a Technical Committee under former Referee Society head Tony Amit, clearly laid out guidelines permitting foreign referees only for traditional, non-competitive school fixtures. Fernando, who had already flown in two referees and even introduced them to the teams they were to officiate, found himself in an awkward, embarrassing position.
Making matters worse for Fernando, SLR formally raised the issue with Asia Rugby’s CEO Ben Van Rooyen, citing procedural violations. Fernando was also issued a written notice demanding an official explanation for his actions.
This episode signals a turning point. With SDIG (Rtd) Latiff at the helm, even temporarily, SLR appears determined to reassert its autonomy and enforce protocols, regardless of external pressure.
For now, it seems the days of Asia Rugby and individuals like Dilroy Fernando dictating terms in Colombo may be coming to an end.
Email sent by the SLR WTF Chairma SDIG (Rtd) M.R. Latiff to Dilroy Fernando is found below:
Subject: Unauthorized Appointment of Foreign Referees for School Matches
Dear Mr. Fernando,
I refer to your involvement in arranging for two foreign referees to officiate in the school rugby matches scheduled for today, namely St. Thomas vs. Isipathana and Royal vs. Trinity, while acting in your capacity as an official associated with Asia Rugby.
Please be advised that I have communicated directly with Mr. Ben Van Rooyen, CEO of Asia Rugby, during a conference call today that included both myself ,Mr. M.H. Marso and Mr Ravi Wijenathan members of the Working Task Force appointed under the Gazette notification dated 22 May 2025. In this discussion, it was clearly concurred with Ben that no foreign referee is permitted to officiate in any match in Sri Lanka without the formal concurrence of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees.
Accordingly, you are hereby requested to ensure that the two foreign referees you have arranged do not officiate in the aforementioned school games. This measure is essential to uphold the protocol established by the competent authorities and maintain the integrity of rugby officiating in Sri Lanka.
Please confirm your understanding and compliance with this directive at your earliest convenience. Your immediate attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mr Latiff – Senior DIG ( Retd )
Chairman, Working Task Force
Sri Lanka Rugby
Cc . Hon Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
Hon Minister of Education
Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Secretary Minister of Education
Director General of Sports
Mr Ben Van Rooyen – CEO Asia Rugby
Secretary Sri Lanka Schoos Rugby Football Association
Mr Dinka Peris – President Srilanka Society of Rugby football referees
Bradby Sheild is organised by Royal and Trinity has nothing to do with SLSR . So both schools can avoid incompetent Sri Lankan ref who mess up the game tks to Dilroy . Dilroy has been best ref in Sri Lanka and a fantastic player. Please do write garbage .
This is not the Bradby, it is an official league match
Hope you read the article properly. Yesterday’s match between RC and TCK was a league match and not a leg of the Bradby Shield.
WTF are you writing dood!? Go learn to express yourself first with some writing tool or basic language course or get AI chatbot that will help you.
WTF commitee? 😅 Eagerly waiting to see WTF does to improve refereeing in Sri Lanka or else the spectators will ask in return “WTF” are they doing?
During our time in rugby in the late 60scand 70s Sri Lanka had fantastic rugby referees. I am,surprised that, what has happened now. Doesn’t Sri Lanka has local referees even for school games?
During our time in rugby in the late 60s and 70s Sri Lanka had fantastic rugby referees. I am,surprised that, what has happened now. Doesn’t Sri Lanka has local referees even for school games? Does Sri Lanka needs to import referees as well. What dignity/ standards can the local referees maintain?
What’s the big idea behind opposing foreign refs if they are doing an impartial job… Does that mean local refs are better than foreign referees or they can stick to their personal agendas
The fact that “SLR appears determined to reassert its autonomy and enforce protocols, regardless of external pressure.” is essentially a good thing and all, but “the integrity of rugby officiating in Sri Lanka” is so far below par (and has been so for a long time now), that schools are desperate, being left with no other choice than to demand international Referees, to ensure there is no bias or favouritism, resulting in fair play, which is what we all want. Just my 2 cents.