A crucial meeting featuring Sri Lanka Rugby, the Schools Rugby Association and corporate sponsors of the sport failed to materialize on Thursday reportedly due to lethargy on the part of the Sports Ministry to ensure that the Minister of Education was present.
An official of Sri Lanka Rugby told the Sunday Observer that two sponsors, Milo and Singer, had insisted that Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam be present at the talks if they were to attend the meeting. But realizing Minister Kariyawasam would not be present the two sponsors kept away and the meeting was postponed.
The meeting was called to bring about a settlement between Sri Lanka Rugby who want to take charge of schools rugby in a responsible and professional way, and the Schools Rugby Association which does not want to let go of their hold on youth rugby for reasons best known to them.
Sri Lanka Rugby have already told the Schools Rugby Association that they will no longer fund youth tours or international matches featuring the Under-20 team if it does not come under their (Sri Lanka Rugby) guidance after spending Rs. 33 million on travel and air tickets over a two-year period with no investment returns.
Sri Lanka Rugby has also said it will not recognise school rugby players in national representation or colours and have openly said that youth rugby has a market value of Rs.200 million and presently undervalued by the Schools Rugby Association.