Presidential offspring Rohitha Rajapaksa assaulted Rugby referee Dimitri Gunasekera today (5th May) at the Havelocks Grounds in Colombo after the Navy lost a qualifying match.
The incident took place when the Police A team defeated Navy knocking the latter out of the Inter-club Rugby sevens tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.
Rohitha Rajapaksa, the youngest son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa was captaining the Navy A team at today’s game. His brother Yoshitha usually captains the team.
Following the Navy defeat, Rohitha Rajapaksa picked up referee Gunesekera by the collar and assaulted him in full public view, eyewitnesses say. The attack on the referee only ceased when Yoshitha Rajapaksa intervened, even slapping his younger sibling when the latter refused to break up the altercation.
With referees refusing to stand to protest against the assault, the tournament was suspended for over 45 minutes. Finally, following a meeting of high level officials with the referees the tournament resumed. Both Rohitha and Yoshitha Rajapaksa were seen regularly in discussions with the referees during the rest of the evening.
The game of Rugby in the country has been severely politicised by the Rajapaksa family in recent years.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha is the captain of the Sri Lanka Rugby team and the Navy Sports club.
Related posts;
Senior Rugby Players Avoid National Team
Sri Lanka To Ban Sportsmen Refusing To Represent Country
Rugby Under Revised (Rajapaksa) Rules
Appuhamy Regiment And The Recent Rugby Games
I Went To A Fight And A Rugby Match Broke Out!
Mahinda and sons/ File photo
Jayantha / May 16, 2013
Can CT publish the video clip on this incident.
We are eager to see and share.
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len / May 16, 2013
Nice Pj shorts.
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Saman Wijesiri / May 17, 2013
Hasn’t the referee said so far that the Prince did not assault him, but only caressed him ? The Rugby authorities are sure to hold an inquiry against this referee and sack him Isn’t it how justice is dispensed in our country?
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S.H.Moulana / May 17, 2013
If the Public Relation minister’s son and Health minister’s son could do that to men of higher standings who is this bloody rugger referee to the son of all powerful ruler of our country? What an encouragement for other sons of government officials to follow! Jayaveva!
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Wyatt K / May 18, 2013
Why was he not arrested for assault? Here in the US, if players are not arrested, the particular sport will suspend them and fine them as well. I agree that this does not reflect well on the clan that runs Sri Lanka. This clan has served its purpose and it is time for it to step aside and let the rule of law prevail once again in a Sri Lanka that will be governed for all. I am hoping that M. A. Sumanthiran will sometime soon get the chance to lead Sri Lanka out of the darkness and restore it for all. I am confident this will happen. There is not reason why Sri Lanka should be led as if it were a Banana Republic. It is not.
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Sanda11 / May 22, 2013
I supported rajapakse, talked for him, defended him here in USA, but now I don’t think I would support him anymore. It is sad what could have been a great saga fallen to the prey of corrupt political culture in Sri Lanka. It is sad to see what is happening to the country I was born, justice and rule of law not applicable to MR’s sons and mervin Silvas son. My advise to fellow young sri Lankan’s is to get the hell out of that country as soon as possible…
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