AGM on Saturday

Punyadasa eyes third term at schools rugby body

By Jatila Karawita

The 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) - which underwent unprecedented turmoil last-year after being taken to courts by St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota over their demotion in the League - is scheduled to be held on Jan 16 (Sat) at 10.30 am at Isipathana College, auditorium.
President of the SLSRFA, KAD Punyadasa, said that as he had already completed two terms at the helm of the game’s local governing body as per the constitution- he had sought approval to remain for a record third-term from the Director of Sports L K Jayaweera and his Secretary Rohana Karunaratne, following fervent requests to do so by the working committee of the SLSRFA.
Punyadasa, who is also the principal of Isipathana College, noted that upon being granted approval by the Sports Director and his Secretary, he will consider running for the SLSRFA Presidency or else will step down as he had only considered it after requests from the working committee who had wanted him to put things in order this year.
The Tharunyata Hetak foundation intervened to conduct the President’s Schools League in 2009 after the SLSRFA failed to organize the much looked forward to tournament in the aftermath of St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota instituting legal action against them.

Singer Tipped to Sponsor League

The Isipathana College principal added that Singer Sri Lanka, who opted out of the sponsorship of the President’s Schools League in 2009 - citing the current global economic meltdown had also expressed their willingness to come back on board.
He affirmed that a final decision on it will be made after the SLSRFA Annual General Meeting next Saturday.
Asked whether he anticipates any hiccups this year as well in light of what transpired last year, the SLSRFA President stated that no room will be left this year for a repeat performance and that standings of all schools set to compete in the ‘A’ Division League tournament will be based on their rankings of last season.
Punyadasa also emphasised that the financial situation of the SLSRFA should be on a sound footing with the probable re-entry of Singer Sri Lanka to sponsor the ‘A’ Division League tournament and also with the continued sponsorship of the inter-school Milo knock-out tournament by Nestle Lanka Limited.
He noted that according to a preliminary schedule drawn by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) the 2010 schools season will kick off in earnest with the staging of the inter-schools Sevens tournament in Feb, before commencing the League days before the Sinhala-Tamil New-Year in April and concluding the programme for the year with the ‘A’ Division knock-out tournament in July.
Kumara Rodrigo from Ananda College and A K Dodanwela are expected to contest the posts of Secretary and Treasurer at this AGM respectively.
Royal College, Colombo will start the forthcoming inter-school rugby season as defending champs of the League tournament having annexed the trophy following an unbeaten campaign in 2009 under fly half Naren Dhason.
S. Thomas’ College MT Lavinia will be the reigning champs of the Milo knock-out tournament having won last year under stand off Shavin Kapuwatte.