* Appointed Match Citation Officer confirms he gave Citation Report to Head of Citing Senanayake
* Peterite ‘Bamba Brigade’ expresses desire to silence journalist
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Colonel (Rtd) Prasanjith Wanigasekera, the Citation Officer for the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) at the St. Peter’s College vs. Zahira College rugby match played earlier, confirmed that he submitted the controversial now missing Citation Report to Wimal Senanayake, the Head of Citing.
This confirmation was conveyed through a WhatsApp message from Wanigasekera to The Morning Telegraph.
The report, which has since gone missing, caused significant controversy after SLSRFA Secretary Manuja stated that the association never received it.
As a result, as reported previously on the 31st of July 2024 titled ” Schools Rugby Scandal: St. Peter’s College Provided Unfair Edge – (Video)” the red card offense reported against a St. Peter’s player was not investigated.
Reliable sources revealed that the report included offenses under rules 9.11 (prohibiting reckless or dangerous behavior) and 9.18 (prohibiting lifting or dropping an opponent in a manner that their head or upper body contacts the ground).
Despite multiple WhatsApp messages sent by The Morning Telegraph to Wimal Senanayake’s number, he has not responded, even though the messages were delivered and read.
Wimal Senanayake’s silence raises several questions, especially given his history of not submitting reports on time. Previously, he delayed submitting a nomination paper to Sri Lanka Rugby within the stipulated time frame when he was entrusted to do so as an official of the Western Province Rugby Football Association. His behavior in that instance fueled extreme bad blood among the members of the WPRFU at that time, highlighting a pattern of tardiness and unprofessionalism.
Now this is the second instance where he has gone on to shelve a crucial report from meeting a scheduled deadline, where in this instance a Peterite player has virtually got away scot-free, despite ample video evidence of that incident being circulated widely on several social media platforms.
Did Wimal Senanayake intentionally avoid forwarding the report to prevent an inquiry being conducted by the SLSRFA’s Disciplinary Committee? or was there any influence from St. Peter’s Head Coach Sanath Martis, his Isipathana College mate, to do so?
With the issue now out in the public eye, it remains to be seen if the SLSRFA will investigate this matter, especially given the presence of respected officials being part of its Independent Advisory Committee.
Peterite ‘Bamba Brigade’ Express Desire To Silence Journalist
Several respected Peterites reached out to The Morning Telegraph to express their gratitude for shedding light on this issue. They emphasized that any wrongdoing should be thoroughly investigated, and if their player is found guilty, appropriate action should be taken. They acknowledged that the report’s focus was on the missing Citation Report, and it was unfortunate that in this instance, it involved a player from St. Peter’s College.
Meanwhile, while most members of the Peterite WhatsApp group ‘Bamba Brigade’ are respected old boys, a small faction of disgruntled individuals, unable to see the forest for the trees, suggested silencing the journalist who reported the facts of the incident. Ironically, the person making this statement is involved in media-related work himself.
Authorities at St. Peter’s Missed an Honorable Opportunity
Despite the mysterious disappearance of the Citation Report and the absence of an official inquiry, extensive video evidence exists of the incident.
St. Peter’s College, a historically respected christian school, perhaps missed an opportunity to take the more honorable route.
Even though the player’s dangerous offense went unpunished, the school could have addressed it by ‘self-citing’ and disciplining the involved player, whilst going on to set an example to other schools.
The school’s tradition of producing distinguished individuals who embody these values could have been upheld by teaching the player the importance of sportsmanship and integrity.
This missed opportunity could have served as a valuable lesson in the dynamics of team sports and personal development, after all rugby is an extracurricular activity which is meant to instill good values in students and complement their academic education.
Related :- https://themorningtelegraph.com/schools-rugby-sandal-st-peters-college-provided-unfair-edge/
