With the Asia Rugby World Cup Qualifiers in the pipeline, a sense of momentum is building around the Sri Lanka national rugby team — not just on the pitch, but in the boardroom and sponsor suites as well. In a media event that blended patriotic fervor, corporate pride and cautious optimism, top officials from Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), key sponsors, and the players themselves gathered in Colombo to lay out their ambitions ahead of a crucial series of international fixtures.

At the heart of the event was the announcement of Maliban as the Platinum Sponsor of the Sri Lanka rugby team for the “Asia Rugby World Cup Qualifiers powered by Maliban,” with support from other partners like Commercial Bank, Aitken Spence Travels, Power World and Edge Nutrition.

But beyond the fanfare, the event also showcased a deeper narrative: a sport undergoing transformation, a governing body realigning with international standards and a team preparing to reassert itself on the Asian rugby stage.

Responding to The Island Financial Review, Retired Senior DIG Latiff, chairman of the Sri Lanka Rugby Task Force, addressed the pressing issue of rugby governance, assuring both World Rugby and the local public that structural reforms were well underway.

“By vote of appeal, I did file an order that the new Constitution shall be approved by World Rugby. The foundation is the Constitutional Review Group, Latiff confirmed. “The new Constitution has already been published and registered. That’s why we’re having this programme as a one-time measure — we are on track.”

He further elaborated that the election for the new Executive Director was impending. Once appointed, the Executive Director will oversee membership registration and the eventual conduct of an Annual General Meeting (AGM), likely within 90 days.

Latiff also addressed the elephant in the room — player payments and fund utilization, noting that “internal costs must be covered first,” but that mechanisms were in place to ensure players were recognized and rewarded.

Rodney Gibbs, former assistant coach of All Black’s Seven, now Sri Lanka’s head coach, a recent arrival tasked with pulling the team together in time for the qualifiers, struck a tone of cautious optimism:

“I’m really impressed with the boys, he said. “We’ve had a tough few weeks, but we’ve kept things simple and focused on why they’re playing — who they’re playing for.”

Team captain Tharinda Ratwatte echoed those sentiments in his address, thanking the sponsors and calling on fans to show up in numbers for matches

“We’re as ready as we can be, he said. “This is the start of our campaign for the World Cup qualifiers, and I promise that my team and I will give our best for the nation — no matter what others bring against us. We are a resilient nation.”

Maliban’s Group Marketing Director Mulinda Weerasinghe said: “This is a brand with 70 years of history. We’ve always believed in supporting the spirit of Sri Lanka, he said. “We’ve already conquered 40 countries as a local brand and now we’re tying that international ambition to sport — starting with rugby.”

Isuru Tilakawardana, Deputy General Manager, Commercial Bank, reflected on why the bank chose to step up as an official sponsor:

“Sri Lanka rugby has done really well recently, and these youngsters have tremendous potential. As the leading private sector bank in the country, it’s our duty to support such sports — especially one that mirrors the qualities our country needs: energy, courage, and efficiency.”

The media event also sparked discussions on how Sri Lanka Rugby could further commemorate its progress. The island Financial Review floated the idea of issuing a first-day postal cover or even a commemorative coin to mark the team’s qualification to the Asian qualifiers. Senior DIG Latiff responded with interest, though cautiously:

“Yes, it’s a significant occasion. First-day covers usually mark major milestones. If we qualify for the World Cup, we’ll definitely look into it — but even now, it’s worth considering.”

In terms of talent, SLR High Performance Rugby Director Inthi Marikar, responding to queries addressed concerns about whether Sri Lanka was producing players on par with past legends like S P D Silva or Charles Wijewardene.

Marikar added: “No disrespect to players of the past, but the game has evolved, he said. “The current athletes have skill levels far beyond what we had. Rugby today is faster, more structured, and requires much higher technical proficiency.”

By Ifham Nizam