- SLSRFA probes alleged assault on Referee
The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), following an initial investigation conducted into the alleged assault attempt on Referee Suranga Aruna Shantha on 24 April, has temporarily stripped D.S. Senanayake College of its hosting rights for the ongoing Dialog Schools Rugby League Tournament.
The Referee concerned had controlled the match between D.S. Senanayake College and Sri Sumangala College, Kandy at Havelock Park, which was won by the latter 28-26 in one of the major upsets to kick off this season’s competition.
Following the encounter, Shantha had been pursued by a biker gang of Air Force personnel who had turned out to be incensed supporters of the D.S. Senanayake College Rugby Team
According to informed sources, the Referee had left the venue on his motorcycle when he had been chased down by the biker gang, but the match official, a former Air Force player himself, had managed to evade his assailants by heading to the Narahenpita Police Station.
The SLSRFA, issuing a media release on Tuesday (28 April), stated that following a preliminary inquiry conducted into the alleged incident, it had come to light that the coaching staff of the D.S. Senanayake College First XV Rugby Team and its supporters had been engaged in the assault attempt on the Referee.
It added that until the outcome of a detailed probe was determined by its Disciplinary Committee, the Wijerama Mawatha-based school rugby team’s hosting rights for the ongoing season would be stripped temporarily.
The SLSRFA also stated that all those who had been identified as suspects involved in the incident had been prohibited from being involved in any rugby-related activities of any school until the completion of the ongoing investigations.
The SLSRFA added that all identified suspects had been summoned before its Disciplinary Committee, after which statements had been recorded, and noted that it would continue to liaise with Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) as per the Ethics Code of World Rugby.
(JK)