By: Susil Premalal

(Colombo) - The Ministry of Education has officially informed the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) that after further investigation, Wesley College rugby player was eligible to participate in the 2024 Inter-Schools Under-19 League Rugby Tournament.

Zahira College had submitted a protest to the SLSRFA against the Wesley rugby player, who had represented the school in the Inter-Schools Under-19 League Rugby Tournament.

In response to the protest, the SLSRFA, held their preliminary investigation under the supervision of Secretary D. W. M. Nimmana on June 20, 2024, at Asoka College in Colombo where the player's rugby identity card, 2024 league rugby tournament registration document, player's birth certificate, GCE Ordinary Level 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 results, GCE Ordinary Level 2023/ 2024 exam admission form was checked and forwarded to the Ministry of Education with recommendations for further instructions.

According to the recommendations given by the SLSRFA, the Ministry of Education has confirmed that there is no issue regarding the fact that the player concerned has appeared for the 2023 GCE Ordinary Level examination and it was notified in writing to the SLSRFA Secretary.

Meanwhile, Wesley College Principal Avanka Fernando has informed in writing that the news published in the Daily Mirror newspaper on June 20, 2024 regarding the concerned Wesley rugby player is not correct.

However, the article published in the Daily Mirror of June 20, 2024 under the headline “Wesley in hot water for fielding ineligible rugby player,” was based on the information provided by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) following their initial meeting held on June 19, 2024 at Asoka MV in Colombo.

The Wesley Principal said that the Ministry of Education had informed the relevant parties in writing on July 22, 2024, on the facts revealed in connection with the investigations on the rugby player.

Following information sought by the education ministry, the examinations department has confirmed that the student has no issue with his examinations.