Former Sri Lanka rugby centre and team manager Christopher Jordashe lashed out at the manner in which the sport has been left to languish without proper progress and blamed what he called voting syndromes and conflicts of interests on the part of administrators.
The Sri Lankan team has had very little to crow about by way of international results in the recent past while the standard of club rugby has also dropped with just one club, Kandy SC, playing as a cut above the rest on the domestic scene.
“The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) at the time made various changes in 1992 hoping that the Provinces will develop more players, clubs and our rugby will ultimately progress to be a top Asian nation along with Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.
“But sadly we have not been consistent over the past few decades or progressed due to many factors,” said Jordashe in an exclusively interview with the Sunday Observer.
Jordashe can consider himself one of the stalwarts with a better track record having captained his S. Thomas’ College school team, led CR and FC on the club scene with distinction and was also its president.
“The founding eight A Division clubs should be supported to move to the next level with a proper blue print drawn up with revised structures for the game on short and long term including schools in priority as well.
“The Western Province has to play a bigger role and attract sponsors to help clubs due to their financial constraints. At the same time clubs should develop their properties,” said Jordashe.
But he also warned of what he called were “hidden factors” which are a stumbling block to implement the changes.
“It should be made clear to those officials who are holding posts contrary to the Sports Law that it is blatantly illegal and they will very soon face legal action.
“It is a shameless act, depriving another individual of holding such a post legally and it is evident these officials have no ethics but want mere recognition and financial benefits,” warned Jordashe.
He alleged that the SLRFU which is now called Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is guilty of ignoring the conflicts of officials.
“We see many officials talking of high performance without having sufficient facilities in the country to train and produce elite athletes apart from two centres.
“Our young players must be nurtured from school and monitored by SLR with qualified professional trainers to conduct these assessments and programs.
“We cannot have agendas or conflicts if we need to progress, but collectively work together with all stake holders with a proper management in place and support from the schools, the Ministry and the corporate companies. What we need is a structure in place not a vote base,” sad Jordashe.