Namal Rajapaksa MP today said his younger brother’s attack to a Rugby referee ‘was a misunderstanding’. Namal Rajapaksa’s response came as a reply to a tweet sent to him by another tweeter user Zaman Alfeoz. Zaman asked “@RajapaksaNamal, did your younger brother Rohitha Rajapaksa attack the refree at 7 a side game… is it true?”
Presidential offspring Rohitha Rajapaksa assaulted Rugby referee Dimitri Gunasekera on May 05th 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 Rajapaksaintervened, 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;
Censorship: Presidential Offspring ‘Referee-Beater’ Rohitha Rajapaksa On Buzz With Daily Mirror
Presidential Offspring Rohitha Rajapaksa Assaulted Rugby Referee In Full Public View
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!
seyed / May 10, 2013
Yes Yes we know it was a mistake (not a misunderstanding) when your Grandmaa gave life to your father and his siblings. Also it was a misunderstanding when the moda Sri Lankans voted for your father. Now everyone is paying the price for all the mistakes and misunderstandings.
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Bensen Burner / May 11, 2013
They are too uncivilised to play these types of games invented by imperialists. they must take to indigenous types games
Bensen
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Senguttuvan / May 11, 2013
Gudu, kankun nooru chin chin nooru (?) climbing the grease pole and others are games from the ancient past, which the more nationally-inclined may want their children to take to strengthen their own patriotic values.
Senguttuvan
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P.B / May 12, 2013
Are these off spring of the president imbeciles? Why are they behaving like this?
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Narendra Mendoza / May 13, 2013
Must we resort to violence to settle our differences? Must we get so angry that it triggers unspeakable physical violence in us? Many people were assaulted that day on the rugby field – not only the referee and the assailant by his brother but also every right-thinking person in the land. Anywhere else the player would have been banned for a long time if not for life; the referees association would have withdrawn its services until it obtained assurances of freedom from assault; the assailant would have been subjected to the common law on assault.
This event encapsulates all that is wrong with Sri Lanka – a breakdown of civil institutions and a loss of professionalism. These two conspire and combine to alter the social fabric of the land as a cohesive, functioning, law-abiding entity.
As has been asked before, have we become the ‘Zimbabwe of Asia’?
What has happened to our beloved land that discussion, compromise, the acceptance of authority with the appreciation of an alternative point of view have become alien concepts? Why can’t we tolerate healthy vibrant discussion and a desire to find common ground?
Have we descended to such a point that the only means to settle our differences is through violence? Is that the hopeless future that awaits our beloved land?
This writer does not think so and hopes that out of the ashes of division and hatred would arise the phoenix of hope and the dawn of a better life for all of us. Future generations would judge us harshly if we do not act now.
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Just Another Citizen / May 13, 2013
So could we all start assaulting people and then say “hey, it’s just a misunderstanding”?
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Goviya / May 13, 2013
Boys will be Boys and as long as you are a GOSL Off spring you have the right to assault any one and everyone
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Bandula Gunawardena / May 13, 2013
It was a misunderstanding by 20 million Sri Lankan to give powers to this dictator family. These idiots think they can foo, the people for ever.
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Kalu Nangi / May 13, 2013
It was a misunderstanding by about 40% of 20 Million Sri Lankans. But the Gilmarters silenced the rest!
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justice / May 13, 2013
The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is silent.Did the refree complain & if so what happened?
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Aney Apochchi! / May 15, 2013
Justice:
The head of the SLRFU is a noted Rajapassa stooge called Asanga Seneviratne who has bought the Sunday Leader as well with an unsecured loan from a state bank, given to him on the orders of Namal Rajapassa.
Seneviratne is one of the major “dhobies” (launderers)in Sri Lanka at the moment. And his activities are not directed at clothing!
In addition, he is the second in command at the Sri Lanka Cricket!
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