COLOMBO, December 31, (ePRESS) Sri Lanka Rugby has taken a major step to strengthen match control and player safety by giving conditional approval to a National Referee Development Plan and approving an Elite Referee Panel, moves aimed at fixing the country’s serious shortage of qualified referees and restoring confidence in domestic competitions.
The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Rugby said the development plan will move forward once sponsorship funding is secured and the Sri Lanka Rugby Council gives final approval. The plan directly targets one of the biggest problems facing the sport — the lack of trained match officials.
As a one-time national intervention, Sri Lanka Rugby plans to develop 30 new referees. This group will include 15 referees from the Tri-Forces — the Army, Navy and Air Force — arranged through the Sri Lanka Rugby Foundation, and 15 referees recruited through a national open call, mainly former and recently retired players with strong knowledge of the game. All candidates will follow a single Sri Lanka Rugby–led training, assessment and accreditation pathway based on World Rugby best practice.
The Executive Committee also approved the creation of an SLR Elite Referee Panel, subject to Council ratification. Under this system, referees for elite and national competitions will be appointed, monitored and assessed centrally by Sri Lanka Rugby, with standard grading, mentoring and reviews. Officials said this model is used by leading rugby nations to ensure neutrality, consistency and match integrity.
As an immediate step for the Super Round, Sri Lanka Rugby will formally request Asia Rugby to appoint two foreign referees for the decisive stages of the competition. The move is expected to ensure fairness, ease pressure on local referees and support the long-term reform process.
Sri Lanka Rugby also thanked the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees for its long service, confirming that the Society will remain a key partner in grassroots recruitment, education and mentoring under the new system.
Officials said the reforms are part of a wider governance and integrity drive to improve officiating standards, enhance safety for players and officials, and rebuild trust in Sri Lankan rugby competitions.
