Disciplinary Committee disciplines Navy rugby officials

The Disciplinary Committee of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) yesterday suspended an official and a former official attached to the Sri Lanka Navy Rugby team from getting involved with the game for the remainders of the ongoing Dialog Division ‘A’ Rugby League Tournament.

Navy SC official, Commodore H.A.U.D. Hettiarachchi and K.D.I. Rathnasooriya, a former Navy SC official and a match commissioner once attached to the SLRFU, were given different verdicts after a hearing took place last Thursday. The judgment of the Disciplinary Committee of SLRFU on the referee abuse report submitted by the match referee Tuan Dole at the Dialog Rugby League second round match between hosts Navy SC and Havelocks SC played last Sunday at Navy ground, Welisara was officially given yesterday.

According to the report Commodore Hettiarachchi, the Chairman of Rugby at Sri Lanka Navy, will be suspended from involving in all types of Rugby for Navy SC which includes officiating, coaching and/or administration of the Navy SC until completion of the next three Dialog Rugby League second round matches till February 21. Rathnasooriya, who apparently was seated on the Navy SC bench at the time when a scuffle broke out involving players of Navy and Havelocks, which eventually ended the match commissioner Tuan Dole and match referee Aruna Rankothge being manhandled was suspended from getting involved with game as a spectator. He will not be permitted to attend as a spectator from all Rugby matches to be played by Navy SC in the ongoing League tournament. He was reprimanded and warned as to his future conduct.

The third individual who faced the Disciplinary Committee, Leonard de Zylva, the coach of Navy SC walked out scot free as he was not found guilty of any charges. However he was advised to ensure the safety of match officials with responsibility when hosting a game at Welisara.

The Disciplinary Committee of SLRFU conducted an inquiry on Thursday evening in Colombo after referee Aruna Rankothge and Match Commissioner Tuan Dole submitted a Referee Abuse Report to the Chairman of the Tournament Committee. The report stated Commodore Hettiarachchi, Rathnasooriya, de Zylva and members of the Navy SC had abused Rankothge and attempted to assault him. It was also noted that supporters of the Navy SC had assaulted another match official Mohamed Ashraff, but was not proved due to lack of evidence. Also a photojournalist attached to a sports website, thepapare.com was manhandled and all pictures of the brawl taken by him had been deleted by the Navy SC officials. In addition to the three accused -- Commodore Hettiarachchi, Rathnasooriya and de Zylva -- Match Commissioner Tuan Dole and referee Aruna Rankothge, who were officials at the Navy vs Havelocks game, Tony Amit, D. Nimal, Anil Mangala, Mohamed Ashraff, Nalin Fernando and Mahesh Senanayake were present at the inquiry.