Sri Lanka youth rugby captain Gemunu Cheitiya has been told to pay back the cost of his passage and stay at the recently concluded Under-20 Asian Rugby Championships in Taipei after he was found guilty of forcing himself on a female employee at the hotel where the team put up.
Following an inquiry conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) Cheitiya has been ordered to pay a sum of Rs. 281,250 which was the cost to have him at the event where Sri Lanka lost all their matches.
Cheitiya could be slapped with a ban following the completion of the inquiry in which the SLSRFA interviewed tour officials and the team coach as well as Cheitiya who admitted to the charge of misconduct on his part.
The incident was also captured by CCTV cameras and the evidence sent to Sri Lanka Rugby, the parent body governing the sport in the island.
Sri Lanka team manager Sanath Illeperuma and assistant coach Jeffery Mushtaq gave evidence at the inquiry.
Based on the evidence the SLSRFA has recommended that Sri Lanka Rugby conducts their own inquiry and take action against Cheitiya in accordance with its code of conduct for players as the player is no longer a schoolboy.
Sri Lanka Rugby said they will deal with Cheitiya in an appropriate manner.
“We will take action against any player who misbehaves like this and such acts can never be tolerated. Players representing the country should know how to conduct themselves”, said Sri Lanka Rugby vice president Rizly Illyas.