Sri Lanka’s interim committee member of the Rugby Union Asanga Seneviratne is to meet with the International Rugby Board (IRB) to discuss funding and development of the island’s rugby but at the same time charges that the absence of elected members to run the affairs of the sport is having a negative bearing on its progress.

Seneviratne was the Vice President of Sri Lanka’s Rugby Football Union before its dissolution, but was appointed to the interim committee upon its creation for a smooth handover.

However he has much to say about the workings of this new committee. In an interview with the Daily Mirror he revealed the game has been turned upside down.

“Rugby is in turmoil and disarray we need independent, credible, former national players as selectors who bear no prejudices. We must bring back the usual format of elected Unions, the interim is a disaster”.

However Seneviratne is just the man to administer the treatment, as he has been given the go ahead by all seven provincial unions of Sri Lanka, to represent his country as the de-facto President of the Rugby Union, meaning he will be able to voice Sri Lanka’s concerns for rugby directly to the IRB.

“I intend on getting credible foreign coaches prepared to work along side Sri Lankan coaches who are hand picked”, he said. However Seneviratne made it clear that his primary intentions were to get funds flowing from the IRB, after having established a recognized Union, and he has been assured by the interim committee’s Chairman Dr. Maiya Gunasekera that this will happen.

Seneviratne has many aspirations for the direction of rugby in Sri Lanka, not stopping at simply receiving funds from the IRB and naturally believes reparations take more than money. He believes people are no longer interested in a diluted product and that once again foreign players must be allowed to participate in club rugby.

Moreover now that the war has come to an end the former captain of S. Thomas’ College and coach of the Sri Lanka team believes that the time has come to capitalize on the tourist industry surrounding rugby.

“Sri Lanka must now be marketed as a recognized rugby venue”, he declared and even feels the country must look at bidding to host Rugby World Cup matches together with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, in order to give rugby a world profile in Asia.

“Furthermore Sri Lanka’s government will fully back any attempt that would lead to the tourism industry being boosted”, he adds.The first steps have already been taken and preparations are under way in the attempt to make Sri Lanka a credible rugby venue. IRB officials are looking (thanks to the help of Seneviratne) at patronizing the Carlton Sevens Cup in its inaugural year in Sri Lanka and the pressure is on for Sri Lanka to produce a competitive team that will compete.

Perhaps Seneviratne’s most memorable achievement as a coach to date, was in 2001, when he led the Sevens team to beat Kenya in the Dubai Sevens by 24-14. Kenya currently ranks at number four in world standings. However this is the source of his frustration. “Three of my players, who beat Kenya in the Dubai Sevens are still playing in the national squad, yet they struggle to represent Sri Lanka in one tournament annually, let alone an IRB Sevens tournament”, he declared.

Clearly he feels Sri Lanka still has the talent to compete at an international level.