Sri Lanka Rugby Executive Committee Grants Conditional Approval for National Referee Development Plan and Approves SLR Elite Referee Panel Subject to Council Ratification.

PRESS RELEASE

Colombo, Sri Lanka – 31st December 2025

The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Rugby has approved key refereeing reforms aimed at strengthening officiating standards, match integrity, and player safety, while clearly setting out the conditions governing their implementation.

National Referee Development Plan – Conditional Approval

The Executive Committee granted conditional approval for the National Referee Development Plan, subject to the securing of required sponsorship funding and subsequent ratification by the Sri Lanka Rugby Council.

The plan has been developed to address the critical national shortage of qualified match officials, which has been identified as one of the most significant challenges currently holding back the progress of Sri Lankan rugby.

One-Time National Referee Intake

Under the proposed plan, Sri Lanka Rugby will implement a one-time referee intake programme involving the development of 30 referee candidates, comprising:

? 15 referees nominated from the Tri-Forces (Sri Lanka Army, Navy, and Air Force), arranged by the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Rugby Foundation, Secretary of Defence, Vice Air Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyakunatha; and

? 15 referees recruited through an open national advertisement, targeting former and recently retired players and individuals with strong game understanding.

All selected candidates will undergo a uniform Sri Lanka Rugby–led training, assessment, and accreditation pathway, aligned with World Rugby best practice. Sri Lanka Rugby reiterated that this intake is a one-time intervention, introduced solely to address the current shortfall in match officials.

SLR Elite Referee Panel – Approved Subject to Council Ratification

The Executive Committee approved the establishment of the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) Elite Referee Panel, subject solely to ratification by the Sri Lanka Rugby Council.

The Elite Referee Panel will operate under a centralised referee management model, whereby referees officiating elite and national competitions will be:

? Appointed by Sri Lanka Rugby

? Centrally monitored and performance-assessed

? Subject to standardised grading, mentoring, and review processes

This governance model aligns Sri Lanka Rugby with international best practice adopted by the majority of leading rugby nations, where national governing bodies directly manage elite referees to ensure neutrality, consistency, and match integrity.

Immediate Measure for the Super Round

As an immediate interim measure, the Executive Committee also approved Sri Lanka Rugby to formally write to Asia Rugby to arrange for the appointment of two foreign match referees to officiate from the Super Round stage onwards.

This step is intended to:

? Ensure neutrality and consistency during the decisive stages of the competition

? Reduce pressure on the existing local referee pool

? Complement the longer-term referee development reforms

Acknowledgement of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees

Sri Lanka Rugby places on record its sincere appreciation to the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees for its long-standing service and contribution to rugby officiating in Sri Lanka.

The Executive Committee recognised the dedication and commitment of generations of referees and administrators under the Society and reaffirmed that SLSRFR will continue to be a valued partner in grassroots recruitment, referee education, mentoring, and development under the new framework.

Next Steps

? The National Referee Development Plan will proceed only upon confirmation of sponsorship funding and Council ratification.

? The SLR Elite Referee Panel will come into effect following Council ratification.

Sri Lanka Rugby will continue structured engagement with referee societies, stakeholders, and regional partners during this period.

The Executive Committee noted that these measures constitute a governance and integrity reform, aimed at improving officiating standards, enhancing player and official safety, and restoring confidence in domestic competitions.

Issued by: Sri Lanka Rugby One Nation,

One Dream – United for the Game