The National Olympic Committee was given the green light by World Rugby to send a sevens team captained by Tharinda Ratwatte for the upcoming Asian Games to be held in China later this year.
Tharinda Ratwatte is set to lead the men’s sevens team in the upcoming Asian Games in China in September this year. Sri Lanka Rugby have shortlisted a 12-strong team inclusive of several young promising players. The two most experienced players in the side are skipper Ratwatte and Srinath Sooriyabandara.
The selection committee headed by Sudath Sampath, together with Duminda Silva, Rajiv Ganapathy, and Nishantha Chanaka held the trials and finalised the team. The trials were held on 12 and 14 July.
World Rugby in a letter addressed to National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramaniam, gave the green light yesterday (26) for Sri Lanka to compete at the Asian Games under the NOC Flag. The letter read: “As you are aware, World Rugby and Asia Rugby recently visited Sri Lanka and held a number of meetings with stakeholders to fully review the issues that resulted in the suspension of Sri Lanka Rugby.
“All stakeholders were concerned that Athletes should not be penalised for governance issues.
“We are aware that the deadline for the submission of an Asian Games team from Sri Lanka has arrived and that the governance issues remain unresolved. As you will be aware, we have been in correspondence with SLR relating to these issues and regrettably they remain unresolved.
“However, given the positive discussions with stakeholders including the National Olympic Committee, Government of Sri Lanka and many rugby stakeholders, we have agreed an alteration to the suspension of Sri Lanka Rugby to permit a team to be entered in the Asian Games subject to the kind agreement of the NOC/OCA to allow the team to participate under the NOC/OCA Flag. The team will enter under the jurisdiction and control of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and not the SLR. For the avoidance of doubt the SLR remain suspended as a member of World Rugby.”
Incidentally, the letter was copied to Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe, Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai, World Rugby Chief Executive Officer Alan Gilpin, Asia Rugby Interim CEO Ben Van Rooyen, Asia Regional Partnership Manager Ridzal Saat, and Sri Lanka Rugby Executive Director Hassan Sinhawansa. The letter was copied to any member of the Stabilisation Committee.
Squad: Adeesha Weeratunga, Chathura Senevirathne, Ravindu Anjala Hettiarachchi, Tharinda Ratwatte (Captain), Aakash Madushanka, Dinupa Senevirathne, Gemunu Chethiya, Dharshana Dabare, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Ramesh Fernando, Heshan Jensen, Adam Gauder