Sri Lanka Rugby is on the brink of chaos. In a stunning twist, both Presidential hopefuls, Lasitha Gunaratne and Pavithra Fernando have been declared ineligible under Article 28.6 of the SLR Constitution, yet the Election Committee has still allowed them to contest. With World Rugby’s suspension threat hanging over today’s AGM at 3PM, the sport now faces the possibility of a headless Ex-Co, a constitutional crisis, and the most explosive election in its 140-year history.
The much-anticipated Sri Lanka Rugby Annual General Meeting and Election, scheduled for later today, has already descended into controversy after the Appeals Board of the Ministry of Sports confirmed that both Presidential candidates, Lasitha Gunaratne and Pavithra Fernando, are ineligible to contest. At the hearing, SLR-appointed Election Committee member Rifdhy Fahmy himself acknowledged that neither candidate met the requirements, yet the committee has still allowed them to run, citing pressure from World Rugby’s suspension threat.
The ruling comes underArticle 28.6 of the SLR Constitution, which states ” A presidential nominee must have served as an office-bearer or committee member for at least one term within the five years immediately preceding the nominations.”
At an appeal hearing held earlier today, following a formal petition by CH & FC opposing the candidacy of Pavithra Fernando, the Appeals Advisory Committee examined the case. In a dramatic twist, Rifdhy Fahmy, General Secretary of the NOCSL and NOC Representative to the Election Committee, admitted that both nominees were indeed ineligible. Despite this, he confirmed that the Election Committee had chosen to allow both men to contest, citing pressure from World Rugby, which has threatened suspension if the AGM and Election are not conducted today, 8th October 2025 at 3:00 PM.
The revelation drew strong protest from Asela Rekawa, Secretary of CH & FC and petitioner in the case, who insisted that the Election Committee has no legal authority to override the SLR Constitution or Sports Regulations by allowing ineligible candidates to contest. He further stressed that even if his club’s nominee was deemed ineligible, the rule of law must apply equally to both candidates, adding that World Rugby’s suspension threat cannot be used as an excuse to bypass the constitution.
The appeal hearing heard earlier today at 10:30 am was attended by Asela Rekawa and Lasitha Gunaratne (who were representing CH & FC), Rifdhy Fahmy, Dilum Dayaratne (who were representing the SLR appointed Election Committee) and the Appeals Advisory Committee attached to the Ministry of Sports.
With the AGM set to begin in less than an hour, the atmosphere is charged with uncertainty. The outcome could not only determine who leads Sri Lanka Rugby but also test the credibility of its governance structure under the looming shadow of World Rugby’s suspension threat.
