* Once celebrated as Ironman on the field, he has now set a record for the biggest leapfrog ever
In a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap opera, Minister of Sports Harin Fernando has appointed Group Captain (Rtd) Nalin De Silva, the immediate past President-elect of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), as the new point of contact and facilitator for rugby development in Sri Lanka. This move has rugby fans across the nation scratching their heads and rolling their eyes in unison.
Group Captain (Rtd) De Silva and his entire SLR Executive Committee were previously dissolved by Minister Fernando because they failed the simple task of adhering to their own constitution and holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM). World Rugby had also politely demanded SLR to implement certain clauses to give A Division Clubs the right to vote. But De Silva found himself in a high-stakes game of rugby politics, unable to tackle the SLR Council’s resistance to change. Hence, no AGM, no points.
In what can only be described as a masterclass in irony, Minister Fernando’s appointment of De Silva has set the stage for a public debate worthy of prime-time TV. Critics are quick to point out that De Silva’s acceptance of this new role is reminiscent of politicians who change sides as often as they change socks. Let’s not forget his stellar performance as SLR Secretary, which included allegedly fast-tracking Fijians to Sri Lankan citizenship in blatant violation of the Immigration and Emigration Act in 2014. World Rugby slapped SLR with a £50,000 fine for this little faux pas, a bill they couldn’t foot, resulting in annual deductions from their Rugby Development funds. Bravo, indeed.
Despite these comedic missteps, the Ministry of Sports has officially rolled out the red carpet for Group Captain Nalin De Silva (Rtd) as the new point of contact and facilitator for rugby development in Sri Lanka. According to the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2386/08 dated May 29, 2024, De Silva will be the go-to guy for all things rugby, liaising with World Rugby and Asia Rugby, and leading the Constitutional Review Group (CRG). He will be working closely with the Director General of Sports, Professor Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando, ensuring that the farce continues smoothly.
The public remains split, with some seeing this appointment as a questionable act of ethics, while others view it as a brilliant strategic maneuver by Minister Fernando, echoing the timeless tradition of political shenanigans. Either way, it’s clear that the game of rugby in Sri Lanka is as much about off-field drama as it is about on-field action.
