Science College apologises to attack on officials in match against S. Thomas

Tuesday, 2 July 2024 01:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Host Science College yesterday apologised for the assault of match officials during the rugby clash with S. Thomas on Sunday.

The apology was conveyed by Acting Principal Suminda Karunarathne in a letter addressed to the President of Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA). Science College said the school is not permitted to bring in their own security due to the Sunday match venue being the Sri Lanka Air Force ground and high security area.

Further Schools Committee members had tried their level best to bring the situation under control though it failed in the end. Injured were sent to hospital in quick time and Science College is all out to support the inquiry by the Schools Rugby governing body.

Action on the part of the Sri Lanka Referees Society and Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) is yet to be announced.

Though a number of attempts were made to contact Sri Lanka Referees Society President Dinka Peiris, he was not available for comment. According to reliable sources, they are to meet and make a firm decision. Further Sri Lanka Police arrested three suspects who were involved in the attack on the referees.

Match officials; Referee Ishanka Abbeykoon, Assistant Referee Jeewaka Fonseka and Assistant Referee Gihan Yatawara along with two more were assaulted soon after the match between Science College and S. Thomas College which took place at Air Force ground in Ratmalana on Sunday.

Science College who were hosting their home games this season at Ratmalana saw a questionable decision on a try or no try by on field referee, Ishanka Abeykoon who after consulting with his AR, Jeewaka Fonseka disallowed the same. This prompted a few home team spectators to take power to their hand and started attacking the three match officials at the ground. Later the three match officials were admitted to Kalubowila Hospital for treatment after being assaulted.

In the end Thomians managed to edge out Science 30/26 in the Dialog schools Rugby League encounter which will be a vital game in order to identify the two teams from the group to move forward to Super Round.