Pavithra Fernando Elected as New Sri Lanka Rugby President 2025–2027

The journey to this point has been long and full of political, legal and sporting drama, but at the Sri Lanka Rugby AGM held on October 8th, which was conducted at the country’s Sports Ministry complex, the new Sri Lanka Rugby President and office bearers were finally elected for the SLR.

Pavithra Fernando is a former Sri Lanka captain and now leads the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) after being elected President for a term running from 2025–2027. Local media have reported that this is seen as a ‘fresh start for the game’ after the sport has faced numerous administrative challenges over recent years, which included a suspension from Asia Rugby and World Rugby.

The elections eventually took place after several delays due to legal disputes and under threat of a two-year suspension from World Rugby.

Also elected to be office bearers are Shanitha Fernando (Deputy President), SSP Chinthaka Perera (Vice President), Air Commodore Subash Jayatilaka (General Secretary – he is also the current President of the Thurstan Rugby Club), Neomal Ekanayake (Treasurer), Ms. Thilini Rangani and Stephan Gregory were appointed as the Female and Athlete Representatives, respectively.

• President – Mr. Pavithra Fernando
• Deputy President – Mr. Shanitha Fernando
• Vice President – SSP Chinthaka Perera
• General Secretary – Air Commodore Subash Jayatilaka
• Treasurer – Mr. Neomal Ekanayake
• Female Representative – Ms.Thilini Rangani
• Athlete Representative – Lt.Stephan Gregory

The elections, nearly expectedly at this point, did not go ahead without their own drama. Running opposed to the elected President was Lasitha Gunarathne, and some Sri Lankan media outlets reported that his nominated office bearers were rejected and Fernando’s nominees were all elected uncontested without an explanation provided.

The Election Committee also dismissed the voting rights of seven of the provincial unions, and A Division clubs had seven votes, as opposed to six to which they had been entitled during previous elections.

It does not exactly appear to be a seamless and smooth political transition to outsiders. The Election Committee comprised all CR & FC nominees (Justice Lalith Jayasuriya, Justice Nimal Ranaweera, and M.M. Mohamed), and both Presidential nominees were, well, also CR & FC members.

A letter sent to World Rugby by the SRL Working Task Force (which was appointed by the Ministry of Sports) was also made available online following the elections, as there was pressure to hold the elections promptly.

This followed a long period of frustration and internal politicking as the Supreme Court had to intervene following World Rugby issuing an ultimatum to SLR to hold its AGM or potentially face a 24-month international isolation from the sport.

This should mark the end of several years of ongoing legal battles and infighting, and accusations of outside interference – but will it? SLR was initially suspended by World Rugby on 17 May 2023, before being provided a conditional reinstatement and allowed to participate in most Asia Rugby tournaments.

For context, this is all tied back to the previous SLR President, Rizly Illyas, who was suspended by Asia Rugby in June 2022 for a potential breach of its Code of Conduct, which led to a subsequent suspension by the Sri Lankan Sports Minister and his removal from office in July 2023.

Feature Photo Credit – Sri Lanka Rugby’s newly elected office bearers for the 2025–2027 term (from left): Female Representative Thilini Rangani, Athlete Representative Lt. Stephan Gregory, Vice President SSP Chinthaka Perera, President Pavithra Fernando, Deputy President Shanitha Fernando, General Secretary Air Commodore Subash Jayatilaka and Treasurer Neomal Ekanayake.

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