DG Sports Pressured to Investigate Peterite Rugby ‘Slap Master’

* Request made to have Head Coach Martis suspended immediately until inquiry is over 

There have been calls for a thorough investigation into the recent assault of a Peterite schoolboy rugby player by Head Coach Sanath Martis, following a match against Vidyartha College on August 4 in Kandy. The Director General of Sports Development, Prof. Shemal Fernando, has been urged to address this issue, which has so far been neglected by St. Peter’s College, the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), and the Ministry of Education.

The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has prompted Asia Rugby Interim CEO Ben Van Rooyen to state that a formal investigation by Sri Lanka Rugby, with a report to be forwarded to Asia Rugby for further action.

This is not the first instance involving Sanath Martis. In 2019, he was caught on camera assaulting a Peterite rugby player, leading to a two-year suspension by World Rugby, where he was also a Rugby Educator.

Currently, Sri Lanka Rugby is under suspension, and its affairs have been overseen by Prof. Fernando following a directive from former Minister of Sports Harin Fernando. However, Prof. Fernando’s handling of SLR-related matters, including a hasty Special Annual General Meeting that ignored the required 14-day notice period, has raised concerns about his familiarity with SLR’s governance and constitutional matters.

Instead of initiating an inquiry into the recent assault, Prof. Fernando has stated that the Ministry of Sports is awaiting input from the SLSRFA and the Education Ministry. It appears there is a lack of understanding that SLR, a member of Asia Rugby and World Rugby, ultimately oversees these matters.

The delay and the apparent attempts to shift responsibility reflect poorly on the country’s current state of governance, revealing a troubling trend of inadequate accountability and transparency even in sports administration.