My brothers asked not to attend rugger practice - Namal

Hambantota UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa said that his two younger brothers -Yoshitha and Rohitha who were members of the Sri Lanka Army and Navy rugger teams, were asked not to attend rugby practice without citing any reasons.

“Just a few days ago, my brothers – Rohitha and Yoshitha – were both informed, by telephone, not to attend rugby practice. No reasons were given. They were just asked not to come,” Mr.Rajapaksa said in his personal blog.

Earlier media reports said Yoshitha and Rohitha were to be removed from the captaincy of the Rugby teams of the Navy and Army respectively, on the instructions of a highly placed official.

Mr. Rajapaksa also said that his family decided to respect the request and not to question the decision ‘regardless of how unjust it seems.’ “Not wanting to tarnish the sport through any potential conflict, we took a decision to simply respect the request and not question the decision regardless of how unjust it seems. Though deeply hurtful, we felt this would be the best decision we could make at this time,” he said.

The full statement issued by Mr. Rajapaksa

Having begun playing around the age of six, we played during school, during college, captained university teams and finally represented Sri Lanka internationally. In addition to enjoying the game, in recent years, we also tried to do whatever we could to elevate the sport in Sri Lanka for younger generations that will follow us in the years to come.

In this effort, we brought down internationally-acclaimed rugby players to Sri Lanka and worked to get access for our players to obtain playing experience abroad. In all honesty, we simply enjoyed playing the game. And as we began to reach the final stages of our sports careers, we felt like we should try to give back to a sport that had given us all so much.

I think and hope that these efforts would have made at least a small contribution to the development of the game. Today, we’re incredibly saddened to see that the bitter, vengeful politics that took over this country after elections earlier this month, have even made its way to the sports sector. Just a few days ago, my brothers – Rohitha and Yoshitha – were both informed, by telephone, not to attend rugby practice. No reasons were given.

They were just asked not to come. Not wanting to tarnish the sport through any potential conflict, we took a decision to simply respect the request and not question the decision regardless of how unjust it seems. Though deeply hurtful, we felt this would be the best decision we could make at this time. For some, rugby was also a part of politics.

But for the three of us, it was the sport we loved. On behalf of both of my brothers and myself, I want express our deepest gratitude to all those who supported us during our rugby careers. I think you all know how sincerely we loved the game. And if given the opportunity, we will never hesitate for a moment to contribute to the development of the sport in any way that we can.

MR’s sons no longer rugby team captains

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons Yoshitha and Rohitha are to be removed from the captaincy of the Rugby teams of the Navy and Army respectively, on the instructions of a highly placed official, informed sources said yesterday.

Instructions had been issued to the relevant officials in this regard. Yoshitha Rajapaksa was the captain of the Navy team and his younger brother Rohitha Rajapaksa was the captain of the Army team. However they have not yet been informed of their removal.

Few weeks ago The Sri Lanka Rugby Union said that Yoshitha Rajapaksa would remain as the Captain of the Sri Lanka Navy Rugby team and Rohitha Rajapaksa would be the Captain of the Sri Lanka Army Rugby team.

Rajapaksa Sons To Lead Army & Navy Rugby Teams

The Sri Lanka Rugby Union said that Yoshitha Rajapaksa would remain as the Captain of the Sri Lanka Navy Rugby team and Rohitha Rajapaksa would be the Captain of the Sri Lanka Army Rugby team despite speculations that the Rajapaksa sons will be pulled out of Rugby squads.

Upon further inquiry, the officials of the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy Rugby federations had told media that former Mahinda Rajapaksa’s two sons would take part in the upcoming Dialog Rugby tournament in their regular positions.

It was widely speculated that the sons of former President Rajapaksa had left the country following the presidential election.

Three sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, namely Namal Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Rohitha Rajapaksa are prominent members of the national Rugby team.

Provincial Council member and JHU stalwart Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said a comprehensive inquiry would be conducted into activities of members of the Rajapaksa family in the field of Rugby. He also added that the new government had received a number of complaints with regard to the conduct of the “princes” of the Rajapaksa family.

He also added that the members of the “nil balakaya”, a youth organization set up by the sons of the former President, would be rehabilitated.

Rohitha Rajapaksha attacks referee

Rugby Referees are facing a life threatening situation following their complaint lodged with Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union against the President’s son Rohitha Rajapaksa.

The complaint urged to probe on the incident where Rohitha had assaulted a Rugby referee at a recent match.

Rohitha Rajapaksa assaulted Rugby referee Dimitri Gunasekera on May 05th at the Havelock Grounds in Colombo after the Navy lost a qualifying match.

The incident took place when the Police A team defeated Navy knocking the latter out of the Inter-club Rugby sevens tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.

The youngest son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa was captaining the Navy A team at the game.

Following the Navy defeat, Rohitha Rajapaksa picked up referee Gunesekera by the collar and assaulted him in full public view stating that the Navy lost because he did not count the try points.

Eyewitnesses stated that the referee might have sustained severe injuries if other referees had not intervened.

However, desiring to put an end to this incident, captain of the Navy team and elder brother of Rohitha - Yoshitha Rajapaksa had intervened, even slapping his younger sibling in a bid to break up the confrontation.

Referees representing Dimitri Gunasekera had refused to continue and the tournament was held up for around one hour.

Again, Yoshitha Rajapaksa has intervened and requested to continue, stating that this was not an issue that was needed to be prolonged and cause disruption.

The referees have stated that the actions of Rohitha are completely inappropriate for a player and it is illegal to threaten or cause physical harm to a referee.

They have informed that they are ready to consider standing for the next matches if Rohitha Rajapaksa apologized.

However, Rohitha has vehemently refused to apologize.

Finally, after nearly an hour of discussions the referees were compelled to resume the tournament.

Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society has made a written request to the President of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Asanga Seneviratne to hold a proper disciplinary inquiry regarding the incident.

Speaking to ‘ Sri Lanka Mirror’ President of Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society - Orville Fernando said that actions should be taken against wrongdoers irrespective of their position to avoid the recurrence of such a situation.

If not, the referees might consider boycotting the next games in line, he adds.

Upon contacting the President of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union - Asanga Seneviratne, he stated that an investigation is under way and results will be released within a week.

However, the Rugby internal sources are in doubt whether Asanga Seneviratne, who reached a higher position in sports and excelled in business with the support of Rajapaksas, will conduct any investigation at all.

The ‘Sunday Leader’ publication, which was highly critical of the government, too, was also bought by Asanga Seneviratne.

Yoshitha skipper, Namal too in Rugby pool

For the Asian five nation Rugby competition, Yoshitha Raajapaksa has been appointed skipper of the SL team.

A pool of 33 players have been selected the tournament . Mr, Namal Rajapaksa too has been included in to that pool. It is significant that most of the players in the pool are those from the SLN sports club. In addition, Kandy Sports Club has 08 players, while Havelocks Sports clubs has 06 players The tournament is scheduled to kick off from the Havelock’s grounds on the 31st of next month

Nittawela Clash ( Photos and Videos )

There was a  clash that took place during an inter club rugby encounter at Nittawela in Kandy Aug 12.

The Navy, which has all three sons of the president as players, was defeated by Kandy Sports Club in the match.

Failing to accept the defeat, a group of Navy men had assaulted the spectators, said Kandy SC president Lasantha Wijesuriya.

It was the Navy physiotherapist who had begun all Navy supporters too beat up the spectators and drove them away from the grounds as the winners were celebrating, he has told BBC Sandeshaya.

It had taken place after President Mahinda Rajapaksa and first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa had left the venue after the match, while their three sons, as well as the large police contingent present, looked on as the assault was taking place, he charged.

Last year too, the Navy beat up Kandy SC players, but police were yet to take any action, Mr. Wijesuriya said.

However, Navy spokesman Commodore Kosala Warnakulasuriya has rejected the accusation, saying Navy players were injured when spectators attacked them.

Kandy Sports Club beat Navy Sports Club by 25-20 in a second round Dialog Division A club rugby match played at Nittawela last 12th.