In a jaw-dropping public declaration that has sent ripples through Sri Lanka’s rugby community, Sri Lanka Society for Rugby Referees (SLSRFR) President Dinka Peiris has openly thrown his weight behind CR & FC’s current Rugby Chairman, Pavithri “Pavi” Fernando, as the next President of Sri Lanka Rugby.
Posting on a social media Whatsapp group named ‘SLR President to be?’ that carries the official SLR logo, Peiris declared that “I on behalf of the SLSRFR, wish to propose the name of CR & FC’s Rugby Chairman… We need to bring a new face and a new vision and mission and a person who has time, energy, a go-getter cos this is a new facelift.”
Was this declaration made with the full backing of the SLSRFR’s general committee or was it a personal endorsement disguised as an official stance? Could it be linked to the generous perks CR & FC extends to the Referees Society, including free use of their grounds, rugby balls, and other facilities? These are the uncomfortable questions now swirling around the rugby community.
Such an open endorsement by the head of the nation’s refereeing body has left many in shock not only for its brazenness, but for the troubling implications it carries. In a sport where impartiality from referees is sacred, this statement reads less like a personal opinion and more like an institutional confession of bias toward a single club. For other ‘A’ Division teams, it sends a chilling message: the refereeing fraternity’s leadership is not just picking sides it’s doing so publicly.
The timing could not be more sensitive. CR & FC, with its century-long legacy, ended a decades-long title drought by winning the league in 2024 amid swirling allegations that certain referees and club officials had colluded to manipulate match outcomes. While those claims faded into silence, Peiris’ endorsement now reopens old wounds, reviving suspicions that many thought had been laid to rest.
For critics, the prospect of Pavithri Fernando leading Sri Lanka Rugby with the backing of the referees’ president conjures a nightmare scenario: a governing body tainted by club favoritism, where match fairness could be irreversibly compromised. The fear is simple yet devastating, if the whistle is already in one camp’s pocket, what hope is there for the rest of the game?
Meanwhile. when the The Morning Telegraph contacted Dinka Peiris for a quote regarding his post, he said “My focus was on Pavi the individual and not necessarily CR & FC the club he represents.”
Below is a legal professional’s opinion regarding SLSRFR President Dinka Peiris’s post:
Dinka Peiris could be formally warned through Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) judicial or disciplinary channels, which are aligned with World Rugby Regulation 18 (Misconduct and Code of Conduct).
The process would typically involve:
- Filing a Complaint – Any club, official, or stakeholder could lodge a written complaint with SLR’s Judicial Officer or Disciplinary Committee, citing the public statement as a breach of impartiality.
- Preliminary Review – The complaint would be assessed against SLR’s Code of Conduct, World Rugby Regulation 18, and the SLSRFR constitution to determine if there’s a prima facie case.
- Hearing or Written Warning
- If the matter is deemed minor but still improper, Dinka Peiris could be issued an Official Warning Letter reminding him of the obligation to remain neutral in public forums.
- If deemed serious (given the potential impact on match integrity), a disciplinary hearing could be convened, with possible sanctions ranging from a formal reprimand to suspension from officiating duties.
- World Rugby Notification – In high-profile cases, World Rugby can be informed, especially if the incident risks damaging the sport’s credibility internationally.
The reference point here would be:
- World Rugby Regulation 18.1 – Misconduct includes “any conduct, behaviour or statement that is prejudicial to the interests of the game or brings the game into disrepute.”
- World Rugby Bye-Law 6.6 – Match officials must “avoid any appearance of bias.”
