Jason Dissanayake still not released by CR

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Kandy-born, Vidyartha, Navy and CR&FC player Jason Dissanayake who crossed over to Kandy SC about two months back is still unable to play club rugby due to his release letter not been given by CR&FC. He lost out in representing the entire first round of club matches this year.

As per the agreement with the Longdon Place Club, which runs till April 2017 only a damage of Rs. 500,000 should be paid by any player who terminates the agreement but the Colombo club has requested for a thumping Rs. 7,500,000 from Kandy SC through a letter sent to Sri Lanka Rugby copied to the Up Country Club. Kandy already paid the required amount as per the agreement to CR&FC about two weeks back.

Recently, after their completion of their first round matches, fresh negotiations between the two clubs took place with the Colombo club coming down to RS. 2,500,000 on the payment, in order to give the green light for Jason to play for Kandy in the second round of matches. But as of now Kandy is not agreeable to this amount which violates the agreement with the club and the player.

Jason, who was an outstanding sevens and fifteens player during his school days at Vidyartha, started his club rugby in Welisara, getting into top gear, later crossing over to CR&FC.

Kandy SC Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijesuriya said: “We are disappointed with CR delaying this purposely. We have already sent out the initial payment of Rs. 500,000 to CR two weeks back. Jason is from Kandy and educated at Vidyartha and got into club rugby and played for Navy before moving to CR. It’s unfair depriving a youngster from playing rugby. It’s a major loss for national rugby. As youngsters, there could be issues and due to a rush of blood they do not think far. I hear that CR has come down to Rs. 2,500,000 which is way too high and they are depriving a youngster’s future.”

CR&FC President Ravi Gunaratne said: “Jason has signed a contract until April 2017 with CR&FC and the club will do what’s best for the sport and is currently negotiating the matter with the player and Kandy Sports Club therefore cannot comment on specific details at this point.”

According to reliable source, Jason Dissanayake is likely to take up the matter with the governing body Sri Lanka Rugby and the Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera for a fair decision on this matter.