Bonsa’s Shameless Grab for Power – Rugby Fans Outraged at Lasitha Gunaratne’s Desperate Comeback

The Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) elections on September 9th are heating up – and the biggest controversy is none other than Lasitha “Bonsa” Gunaratne’s shameless bid to sneak back into power.

Once a proud CR & FC man, Gunaratne couldn’t even win over his own club this time – the Red Shirts handed their nomination to former captain Pavithra Fernando instead. Rejected at home, “Bonsa” has now pulled strings to bag a nomination from CH & FC, a club he has never even played for. For many, it’s the ultimate act of betrayal – a man so hungry for power he’s willing to wear another club’s colors just to get back in the game.

A Presidency of Failure

Gunaratne already had his chance. From 2018 to 2022, he sat in the president’s chair – and what did he leave behind? A deeper hole. Under his watch, the rugby budget deficit ballooned by 18 million rupees. Zero progress, zero development – just more debt.

His weak leadership was so damaging it paved the way for the disastrous reign of Rizly Ilyas, the man who chased away Sri Lanka Rugby’s biggest sponsor Dialog Axiata, and got the country banned by World Rugby. Bonsa’s fingerprints are all over that collapse – he helped open the door to the chaos.

Same Old Faces, Same Old Cartel

Now, when the entire rugby community is crying out for fresh blood and a clean break from the same corrupt cartel, here comes Gunaratne – desperate, greedy, and shameless. His comeback isn’t about rugby. It’s about ego, power, and hanging on to the perks of the presidency.

The message from the rugby faithful is clear: Sri Lanka can’t afford another round of Bonsa. He had his time, he failed, and now he’s clinging on through a club he never even played for.

On September 9th, the rugby fraternity must decide: move forward with leaders who can actually rebuild the sport – or hand the game back to the same old faces who ran it into the ground.