By: Ashraff.A.Samad
The high commission of Pakistan Sponsored for Sri Lanka Rugby Sports tournaments 4 Districts and Village level Developments Rugby Sports, for 7 provincials. The fact Pakistan decided to come on board following an invitation by SLR president Rizly Illyas, should be hailed. Sport builds trust and rugby has the credentials to go beyond trust and look at lasting relationships. That was one factor that helped the two countries to come together and form a partnership within a short period of negotiating. Rugby is an expensive sport and receives the patronage of a rich community.
Unlike other sports rugby gets its fair share of media attention. Now the SLR must try to rope in Pakistan to sponsor Sri Lanka national rugby as well. There are huge prospects for a sponsor for getting involved in national rugby because Sri Lanka contests the Asian Sevens Series and the Asian Rugby Tournament. Apart from that Sri Lanka is a popular rugby team in Asian region as well
SLR President Rizly Illyas press briefed “On behalf of Sri Lanka Rugby, Sri Lanka Rugby Provincial Development Tournament Sponsored for the first time by the High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka. It’s indeed a wonderful memory to refresh the ties of the game of Rugby between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. . I would take this opportunity to humbly thank Major General Umar Farooq Burki – The high commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka for coming forward to support the game of Rugby in Sri Lanka for the first time with a sponsorship for the Provincial Development tournaments. Out of the 8 Provincial Unions, we have planned to conduct 4 development tournaments in the coming months with this sponsorship in selected districts.
As this is great news to us, we are hopeful and looking forward to a South Asia Triangular Tournament between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India soon. We believe that Sports always connect people. As you may all know, Rugby is the most popular sport after Cricket; this is a great opportunity that the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka has come forward to fund the SLR provincial development tournament where it will surely help for better standards of the Game of Rugby in Sri Lanka. Also we appreciate the Pakistan Rugby Union Chairman Mr. Fawzi Khawaja, President Mr. Arif Saeed and the Secretary Mr. Salman Muzaffer Shaikh.
