Dr. Kelum Sujith Perera
Pioneering Ambitions
A dedication to sports and community service
Dr. Kelum Sujith Perera hails from a family deeply rooted in service and dedication. His upbringing – with a father serving as a police officer and mother devoted to homemaking – instilled in him the values of commitment and perseverance.
As the sole son among four siblings, his place in the family shaped Perera’s sense of responsibility and leadership.
Perera’s rugby journey began at Lumbini College where he showcased his talent before the age of 15 and was appointed vice captain of the first XV team in 1995, making waves as a flanker. The highlight of his playing career was when he was selected to be a member of the Sri Lanka under 19 squad, albeit as a standby, but a leg injury curtailed his promising career.
But Perera didn’t let frustration dampen his spirits. Instead, he transitioned to refereeing – a passion he pursued diligently from a young age. “I would have continued playing but for my knee injury. So I began refereeing soon after school,” he says.
Upon moving to Dubai in 2008, Perera embarked on a new chapter in the insurance sector while continuing to nurture his passion for refereeing.
His dedication earned him recognition – including being named the most improved referee twice by the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union and serving as an International Rugby Board (IRB) official for the Dubai 7s since 2010.
“I’ve counted 15 years at the Dubai 7s, serving as a referee, an administrator and a World Rugby television match official (TMO),” he states, with a sense of pride.
Driven by a desire to serve the Sri Lankan expatriate community, Perera took on leadership roles, acting as the President of the Old Lumbinians’ Association (UAE) and Lanka Lions.
His perseverance led to the formation of Sri Lions in 2019, which offers a diverse range of sports activities. He says: “Even when I was in Sri Lanka, I always wanted to do something for my community.”
Under his guidance, Sri Lions has flourished, participating in various sports leagues and tournaments with notable success in rugby, culminating in impressive performances in the international segment of the Dubai 7s.
Having emerged champions of the Gulf Men’s Open at the Dubai 7s in 2019, Sri Lions decided to explore new horizons by playing in the International Men’s Open in 2021.
“The International Men’s Open is the highest standard you can play at in the Dubai 7s. We’re the first Sri Lankan team to play in this segment,” Perera notes.
Since it’s a different kettle of fish playing with the big boys at international level, Sri Lions roped in international rugby stars such as South African legend Cecil Afrika to represent them, winning the Plate title at the International Men’s Open in the 2023 Dubai 7s after losing in the cup semifinals for two consecutive years.
“We should have won the cup but unfortunately, we lost to the South African development team,” Perera notes.
His vision extends beyond sports, encompassing community service initiatives and plans for global expansion, to countries like Canada and Australia. Perera’s dedication to uplifting the Sri Lankan community is evident in his sponsorship of players; and he expresses his gratitude to sponsors like Lakbima Cargo, Jabra and Alpha Tech for supporting Sri Lions despite the challenging economic times.
Reflecting on his journey, Perera finds fulfilment in witnessing the growth of young athletes and the impact of his initiatives on the Sri Lankan community.
Sri Lions’ commitment to inclusivity is evident with local talent predominantly featured across all sports. However, recognising the high standard of netball, the organisation plans to include international players in that domain.
“We exclusively enlist local talent for all sports except rugby. However, recognising the high standard of netball, we plan to include international players as well. Nonetheless, our commitment remains steadfast in fielding Sri Lankan athletes across all other sports,” he affirms.
Perera adds: “Sri Lanka stars Srinath Sooriyabandara and Mithun Hapugoda have led the side with distinction with overseas stars serving as vice captains.”
Sri Lions Rugby has made a lasting impact in Sri Lanka since winning the HARFA Trophy in 2019, opening a women’s rugby academy and competing in the B Division league.
“We want to elevate Sri Lankan rugby to new heights and foster a stronger community spirit through sports,” says Perera, revealing Sri Lions’ ambitions of playing in the A Division next season.
– Compiled by Allaam Ousman
FACT FILE
AGE
47
PRESENT OCCUPATION
President – Sri Lions
ACHIEVEMENTS
Vice captain – Lumbini College first XV rugby team (1995)
Represented Sri Lanka under 19 at the International School Rugby Tournament in Malaysia (1995)
Represented Havelock Sports Club (1995-97)
Member of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (1996-2006)
Senior referee of the UAE Rugby Football Referees union – Level 2
Referee of Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) (2008-11)
Participated in the International Rugby Board 7s and World Rugby 7s tournaments in the UAE (since 2008)
President of Api One Lumbini – Old Lumbinians’ Association (since 2021)
Sri Lions stands as a beacon of sports excellence and community service in the UAE. The organisation has flourished under Dr. Kelum Sujith Perera’s leadership, offering a diverse range of sports activities while actively engaging in social endeavours.
Beyond sports, Sri Lions has made significant contributions to the Sri Lankan expatriate community, exemplifying Perera’s vision of fostering a stronger community spirit through sports and social initiatives.