{"id":38495,"date":"2012-04-14T15:11:25","date_gmt":"2012-04-14T15:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=38495"},"modified":"2012-04-21T20:21:44","modified_gmt":"2012-04-21T20:21:44","slug":"senior-rugby-players-avoid-national-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/senior-rugby-players-avoid-national-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Rugby Players Avoid National Team"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a>

Mahinda Rajapaksa and his sons play rugby<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

By Saroj Pathirana -BBC Sinhala service –<\/strong><\/div>\n
A group of Sri Lanka\u2019s most senior national rugby players are staying away from the national team after being overlooked for the captaincy.<\/strong><\/div>\n

The unprecedented decision was taken after the President Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s son, Yoshitha, was appointed captain in February for the HSBC Five Nation rugby Asiad in the Philippines.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Yoshitha Rajapaksa (C) was appointed national captain overlooking many senior players<\/p><\/div>\n

Two of the senior players, Fazil Marija and Roshan Weerarathne of Kandy Sports Club (Kandy SC) are playing in New Zealand while the national currently tours Philippines.<\/p>\n

The former vice captain Marija is currently the most senior national rugby football player in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

‘Traitors’<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say whether Marija was disappointed for being overlooked for the captaincy but obviously there are reasons for him to be disappointed,\u201d says Malik Samarawickrama, the trustee of the Kandy SC.<\/p>\n

‘Traitors’<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say whether Marija was disappointed for being overlooked for the captaincy but obviously there are reasons for him to be disappointed,\u201d says Malik Samarawickrama, the trustee of the Kandy SC.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has been playing for the country for eight years and is the most suitable to be appointed the captain in my opinion,\u201d he told BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya.<\/p>\n

Former captain Pradeep Liyanage, Gayan Weerarathne Shan Wijesinghe and Dilshan Lewke are among the others who have decided to stay away from the national team for various reasons.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Former vice captain Marija is currently being trained in New Zealand<\/p><\/div>\n

Writing in Ravaya newspaper, journalist Tiran Kumara Bangamaarachchi says the \u201ccourageous decision\u201d might even mark the end of national career for many of the players.<\/p>\n

Addressing media before the national team\u2019s departure for Philippines, new captain Yoshitha Rajapaksa has described the players who stayed away from the team as \u201ctraitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI view the decision by certain senior rugby players to play for other countries or take rest instead of playing for the country as a treacherous act,\u201d Rajapaksa, a young naval officer, said.<\/p>\n

But Mr Samarawickrama, a strongman of the main opposition United National party (UNP), says both Marija and Weerarathne were given prior permission by Sri Lanka Rugby Rugby Union (SLRFU) to travel to New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny player has a fundamental right of deciding whether to play for the country,\u201d Malik Samarawickrama told BBC Sinhala service.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how can Yoshitha describe them as traitors when he himself returned from the team just before the crucial final game against Singapore to take part in a car race in Colombo,\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n

BBC Sandeshaya could not contact Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage or SLRFU president Asanga Senevirathne despite repeated attempts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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