Minister wants banned rugby player back

Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge yesterday directed the Rugby Union to lift a one month ban imposed on Kandy player Anuranga Walpola who was found guilty of threatening referee D. Nimal at a match.

Nimal was one of the touch judges during Kandy’s match against Police in Colombo and at an inquiry Walpola denied he threatened the match official with physical harm.

The Minister’s intervention analysts say is a slap on discipline and the Rugby Union’s campaign to prevent the game from being brought to disrepute.

The ban on Walpola was also meant to keep the hooker out of Kandy’s last league match against CR and FC this weekend.

At an inquiry last week a letter reported to have been signed by an apologetic Walpola was presented to the Rugby Union’s disciplinary committee but it was not enough to save the player from the ban.

But Kandy have welcomed the intervention of Minister Lokuge saying it was an unfair ban imposed on the player.

"You got to respect the directive by the minister and this means that Walpola will play on Saturday", said Kandy secretary Iswan Omar.

Omar claimed that what was supposed to be a "friendly remark" after the match by Walpola towards Nimal was blown out of proportion and sensationalised.

The Rugby Union received the Minister’s directive on Tuesday and would present the case to its Appeals Board for a final decision according to secretary D. Hameed.

He did not say when the ban will be lifted.

"The Minister’s letter will be submitted to the appeal board as soon as possible", said Hameed.

Kandy have already won the League championship for the eighth time in a row.