Former Sri Lanka Rugby president Nimal Lewke has thrown his weight behind the sport’s incumbent head Lasitha Gunaratne who has been castigated for not voting in favour of the UAE candidate who won last week’s Asian Rugby election.
Gunaratne was also on the list for the vice presidency and was authorized by Sri Lanka Rugby to vote for the Japan candidate who eventually lost.
“I think Lasitha (Gunaratne) did the right thing by supporting Japan at the election,”said Lewke who was also at one time the president of Asian Rugby.
“Japan has always supported us whether it is economically, politically or in sporting relations and Japan has always treated us well”.
Lewke said Japan also played a leading role in ensuring the Asian Rugby Championship was held in Colombo at a time when most other nations threatened to pull out over security concerns.
Gunaratne, according to a letter reported to have been sent to the Sports Ministry in Sri Lanka, was accused by the UAE candidate of “shortsightedness” and also disregarding the nomination of countryman Asanga Seneviratne who was also reported to have vied for the vice president’s post.