Sixteen years ago, fifteen national players walked out in protest when CR & FC’s Pavithra ‘Pavi’ Fernando was handed the Sri Lanka Rugby captaincy through political favoritism. Today, in a shocking twist of déjà vu, Pavi is back, embroiled in yet another controversy as he bids for the presidency of Sri Lanka Rugby despite being ineligible. Backed by political heavyweights, accused of manipulating systems, and dragging the sport through the same cycle of corruption, his rise threatens to stain 140 years of rugby tradition. Is Sri Lankan rugby doomed to repeat its darkest mistakes?
A Scandal That Shook the Game
It almost defies belief. A court document resurfacing after sixteen years reveals how fifteen Sri Lankan rugby players once filed a fundamental rights case against Pavithra “Pavi” Fernando, his father Hemasiri Fernando, and eighteen others after the Sri Lanka Rugby captaincy was snatched away from CH & FC’s Dilanka Wijesekara and shockingly handed to Pavi Fernando. The scandal rocked the nation. At the time, Hemasiri Fernando was also a member of the National Sports Selection Committee, and the selectors had already chosen Wijesekara as captain before sending the list for ministerial approval. Yet, in what stunned players and fans alike, the Ministry of Sports overturned the selectors’ choice, sparking outrage and a boycott.
Chaos, Boycotts, and Resignations
The fallout was chaos. Fifteen of the country’s core rugby players including stars like Fazil Marija, Kishore Jehan, Sean Wijesinghe, Mohamed Sheriff, and Radika Hettiarachchi pulled out of the squad in solidarity with Wijesekara. The story made international headlines from New Zealand to the UAE, and even the national coach from New Zealand resigned in protest, embarrassed by the political meddling. In the end, an Interim Committee scrambled to send a second-string team to Dubai for the Asian Five-Nations qualifier, leaving the sport in disarray. It was an ugly episode that left a permanent scar.
The case was filed under S.C.F.R. No. 342/2009 and the list petitioners were: H. Dilanka Wijesekera, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, G.Dinesh Sanjeeva,Tuan Shamrock, R. M. M. Sathiya Ranathunga,Tuan Kishor Jehan, Eranga Swarnathilake, Safeer Jhan, S.Mark Wijeisnghe, K.A. Don Sajith Saranga,W. M. Prasad Chaturanga, T. Mohamed Fazil Marjja, Gayan Weeraratne, Mohamed Sheriff and H. Rathika I. Hettiarachchi.
Sixteen Years Later – Déjà Vu
And yet, here we are again. Sixteen years later, Pavi Fernando is embroiled in another scandal, this time attempting to contest the presidency of Sri Lanka Rugby at the 8th October 2025 AGM despite being ineligible under the very rules of the game. Once again, political power is at his side, with the backing of Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and his hand-picked National Sports Council Chairman, Priyantha Ekanayake. Once again, the pattern reeks of manipulation. The names change at the top, but the story does not.
The Family Dynasties That Rule the Game
Sri Lankans had hoped for better. The public elected the National People’s Power (NPP) on promises of ending fraud, manipulation, and corruption. But nothing seems to have changed, not in politics, and certainly not in rugby. The Rajapaksa dynasty once dominated the sport, with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons representing and captaining the country while domestic tournaments mysteriously tilted their way. Referees were even reported to have been slapped in public. Opponents hesitated to tackle the Rajapaksa brothers for fear of reprisal after games. Today, the Fernando dynasty seems to be following that same playbook.
Not Just Rugby – A National Pattern
This is not limited to rugby. In football, Manilal Fernando ruled for nearly two decades, and his son Manil Fernando now sits in the FFSL and is tipped to be its future president. In Pavi’s case, the irony runs deep. His father Hemasiri once led the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), and Pavi himself quietly slipped into its Executive Committee only months ago, not through rugby, but under the guise of the obscure Climbing and Mountaineering Association, at a time when eight other NOCSL members had resigned or been suspended on charges of fraud, corruption, and even human smuggling. Today he himself complains about paper clubs that exist as members of SLR.
Pavi’s Hypocrisy and Violations
The hypocrisy does not end there. As Chairman of Rugby at CR & FC, Pavi once violated the SLR Constitution (Clause 7) by refusing to release his club’s players for national duty. His excuse? He did not want them injured before the knockout season. Today, he lectures about reform and fairness, while simultaneously heading a newly formed Past Players Association, which he has already placed himself at the top of as Chairman.
A Nation Trapped in the Same Cycle
It is shocking, it is shameful, and it is deeply disappointing. For a nation with more than 140 years of rugby tradition, Sri Lanka continues to be dragged down by the same toxic cycle of political interference, family dynasties, and blatant manipulation. Sixteen years on, nothing has changed. Once it was the Rajapaksas, now it is the Fernandos and the game suffers while the people watch helplessly. Ordinary citizens shake their heads with a weary “what to do, machang,” as the sport is treated like the private backyard of the rich and powerful.
A Hope for Change
But there must be hope. Rugby belongs to the people, not to political families or their backroom deals. If Sri Lanka is ever to move forward in sport, the system must be rebuilt on integrity, fairness, and transparency. The youth of this country deserve a game untainted by egos and corruption, a game where captains earn their jerseys, not inherit them through their fathers’ power. Sixteen years later, it is clear that the cycle must be broken. The question now is whether Sri Lanka has the courage to finally say: enough is enough.
God father wanted his Boytoy to be the captain. Listen to Minister Hirunika how God father try to assign his Boys. 😅