Wesley in hot water for fielding ineligible player

By Susil Premalal

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) has begun an inquiry after a complaint received that a rugby player who has left the school because of failing the GCE O/L Examination has represented the Wesley College Under-19 Rugby Team.

The inquiry started after the players, coaches, and parents of the respective schools as well as other schools had written and verbally complained to the SLSRFA authorities in detail about the relevant information.

The initial inquiry was held at Asoka MV in Colombo yesterday on Wesley College Under-19 rugby player R. A. S. H. Peiris, in the presence of Wesley master-in-charge and other top officials from the SLSRFA. 

The Secretary of the SLSRFA D. W. M. Nimmana had requested the Wesley Principal to submit few documents at this meeting relevant to the inquiry - through the master-in-charge - including the Schools Rugby identity card of R. A. S. H. Peiris, the players’ registration, birth certificate, 2023 and 2024 GCE O/L admission card and the school leaving certificate, certified by the Principal.             

The Schools Sports Association and the Ministry of Education have received several complaints in the recent past about fraudulent incidents in some of the major team championships among the popular schools in Colombo.     
It has been alleged that some leading schools are engaging in fraudulent activities in order to help their teams to participate in team events by fielding over-aged player and players who have left school to participate in tournaments, informed sources from the Education Ministry revealed yesterday. 

It is believed that various misdeeds are happening on the recommendation of the trainers and coaches who are involved with these schools.

Meanwhile, Director Sports, Ministry of Education Athula Wijenayaka said: “We have not received any complaint about this incident yet. Very often, the recommendations are forwarded to the Education Ministry after an investigation is completed by the schools associations.”