The Election Committee (EC) formed to oversee Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) Annual General Meeting (AGM) fixed for 9 September has put on hold the acceptance of nominations after its deadline lapsed on Tuesday (19), The Sunday Morning Sports reliably learns.

According to informed sources, a technical issue as per the provisions of the new SLR Constitution, on the part of a few clubs that had submitted their nominations, had forced the EC to temporarily put its acceptance on hold.

Two former Sri Lanka stars, Pavithra Fernando and Lasitha Gunaratne, the latter a former Head of SLR himself, had reportedly submitted their nominations to contest the top post of the sport’s local controlling body.

When contacted, SLR Executive Director Chula Ariyaratne said that he would release a press statement shortly, once the EC headed by retired Justice of the Court of Appeal Lalith Jayasuriya made an official decision on the process ahead.

However, rugby analysts maintain that if the EC were to resort to calling for nominations again, the election of office bearers will presumably get pushed further back to either late next month or even early October.

This is in view of the time period that needs to be allocated for the submission of nominations, the acceptance of objections, and the holding of the AGM afterwards. 

SLR is currently helmed by a five-member Working Task Force headed by retired SDIG M.R. Latiff and formed by the Sports Minister after the latter temporarily suspended the registration of the governing body last May. 

(JK)