SL Rugby Strikes Back as Journalist Blows Ref’s Whistle Off – Key

Working Task Force accuses journalist Allaam Ousman of bias and misrepresentation, slams publication for ignoring facts

A sharp war of words has erupted between Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) Working Task Force and veteran sports journalist Allaam Ousman, following the latter’s scathing article titled “Let the Whistle Blow Fair“, published in the Daily Mirror on July 20. The piece, which questioned the refusal to appoint foreign referees for key school rugby matches, has now drawn an equally pointed rebuttal and not just from officials.

Chula Ariyaratne, Executive Director of SLR, has formally addressed a letter to Ousman, invoking the organization’s right of reply, accusing the journalist of misleading the public whilst omitting key facts.

Ariyaratne’s response backed by a detailed seven-point clarification doesn’t just correct the narrative. It calls into question the ethics of the reporting, noting that Ousman, despite being a seasoned writer, published what is best described as a “one-sided article” without seeking input from the national governing body.

Sporting insiders have taken note of Ousman’s recent pattern of publications across multiple platforms, including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Sunday Observer, and Daily News, with whispers that he now functions as a freelancer “singing for his supper”, whilst catering to agendas rather than editorial balance.

The Original Article: What Ousman Argued

In his published article “Let the Whistle Blow Fair”, Ousman claimed that SLR and the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) had stonewalled “a reasonable request” made by four elite schools Royal, Trinity, Isipathana, and S. Thomas’ to appoint foreign referees for key league games.

He accused rugby authorities of hiding behind “technicalities,” alleging that the refusal stemmed from “petty power struggles and personal egos.” He further argued that foreign referees bring neutrality, improve standards, and had been accepted in the past, notably in the Bradby Shield series. He ended by imploring rugby’s leadership to embrace “greater inclusivity, professionalism, and transparency.”

SLR WTF’s Seven-Point Rebuttal: What Ariyaratne Clarified

In a structured response titled “Let the Truth Govern the Game,” sent to Ousman on July 21 for publication as a right of reply, the Working Task Force made the following seven assertions:

1. A Formal Decision Was Made and Accepted
On April 24, 2025, a formal decision was unanimously made at a meeting between SLR and SLSRFA, with no objections or appeals. The decision required prior approval from both the home union and local referee society before appointing foreign match officials, making any unauthorized appointments procedurally invalid.

2. Misuse of Foreign Officials Undermines Protocol
The referees brought in were meant to officiate the Sri Lanka vs UAE Emirates Trophy and were never approved for local school games. SLR points out that even Asia Rugby’s CEO confirmed that no foreign referee can officiate in any jurisdiction without union and society approval a standard global requirement.

3. Nationality ≠ Superiority
The assumption that foreign referees are automatically superior is dangerous and disrespectful. Sri Lankan referees, SLR argued, have also officiated internationally and should be judged on merit, not passport.

4. Selective Requests Breach Fairness
If four elite schools request foreign referees, what about the others? Equity demands consistent standards. Selectively upgrading officiating undermines fairness across the tournament.

5. Bradby Shield Doesn’t Set a Precedent
Ousman’s comparison to the Bradby Shield was rejected outright. SLR clarified that it is a private, friendly fixture, not governed by the formal structures of league competition.

6. Sustainable Reform Comes Through Capacity Building
While acknowledging flaws, SLR insists that the long-term solution lies in training, mentorship, and exposure, not outsourcing to foreigners , especially not without proper clearance.

7. Comparing Referees to Coaches is Misguided
Foreign coaches are hired to prepare national teams for international events, a strategic move. Referees, however, must remain neutral and consistent across domestic competitions. The comparison, SLR said, was “fundamentally flawed.”

Asia Rugby’s Dilroy Weighs In – Again

Not one to miss a chance to stir the pot, Dilroy Fernando, Asia Rugby’s Referees Manager who has been at the heart of the foreign referee controversy forwarded the link of the Daily Mirror article to Editor of The Morning Telegraph, captioning it with two words:

“True Facts (above)”

This, despite Fernando himself being reprimanded earlier this month by SLR WTF Chairman SDIG (Rtd) M.R. Latiff, for his unauthorized attempts to appoint foreign referees a move that sparked the entire episode.

The Bigger Picture

The backlash against Ousman’s article highlights deeper tensions within the Sri Lankan rugby ecosystem between legacy media narratives, freelance journalism, and the governance-driven direction the current SLR Working Task Force claims to be enforcing.

For SLR, this rebuttal was not just a matter of protocol, it was a defense of its legitimacy, especially at a time when refereeing decisions, administrative integrity and media agendas all converge under the scrutiny of a passionate and divided rugby public.

Whether “Let the Whistle Blow Fair” will spark further fallout remains to be seen. But for now, the Working Task Force has made one thing clear: If whistle-blowing is to be fair, the reporting should be too.