- Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), formerly the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), has been the game’s local governing body for nearly 100 years
- In the 1990s, through a constitutional amendment, a provincial system was introduced, mainly for player registration and voting
- Due to this new voting system, the Western Province gained “an undue advantage” as all “A” division clubs, except Kandy Sports Club, were based in it and dominated every election
- SLR is under World Rugby (WR), the Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka, country’s Sports Law, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Olympic Charter
- Prior to the SLR Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 29 July 2020, a complaint was made to the Ministry of Sports that the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU), along with several other affiliates, had not paid their annual membership fees to SLR
- As a result, they became ineligible to vote at any SLR meeting
- As per the Sports Law, Sports Minister Dullas Alahapperuma appointed a committee about two years ago to inquire into this issue
- Based on its findings, Alahapperuma on 17 July 2020 suspended the SLR members, including WPRFU, who had not paid their subscription fees
- Rizly Illyas was subsequently elected as SLR President uncontested on 29 July 2020
- Later SLR Executive Committee (Ex-Co) agreed to accept the arrears of the WPRFU and reinstate their SLR membership
- Alahapperuma’s successor Namal Rajapaksa, appointed an Advisory Committee for the development of rugby on 1 November 2021, reportedly with the consent of Asia Rugby (AR)
- This Advisory Committee was headed by Asanga Seneviratne, current member of Asia Rugby Ex-Co
- On 1 April 2022, Rajapaksa issued a Govt. gazette temporarily suspending SLR and appointed Director General of Sports Development Amal Edirisooriya as the Competent Authority for administration and operational functions of SLR and also to oversee the conduct of its next AGM
- The alleged reason for the suspension was SLR entertaining “suspended members” from attending its meetings, violating SLR’s Constitution whilst not adhering to Alahapperuma’s former directive
- As Rajapaksa resigned as Sports Minister on 3 April, owing to the volatile socioeconomic situation in the country, SLR filed a case at the Court of Appeal against the Sports Ministry’s gazette
- On 9 April 2022, AR temporarily suspended SLR’s membership
- During 20-24 April 2022, AR sent a delegate to Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission. The delegate had met with all SLR stakeholders
- On 29 April 2022, AR sent the Ministry of Sports a letter stating that the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) will conduct the SLR AGM/elections on 28 May 2022, expecting a response from the Ministry of Sports by 6 May 2022
- AR conducted an Extraordinary Sub Meeting on 30 April 2022 and unanimously decided to ratify their Ex-Co’s 9 April decision and imposed “a full membership suspension” of SLR until further notice
- SLR responded to the banning saying that AR’s full suspension pertained only to the tournaments organised by AR. SLR said it would continue to take part in the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games (which was postponed indefinitely on 6 May), and also conduct its local tournaments
- NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam fully condemned both the Ministry of Sports’ and AR’s suspension of SLR saying that they look forward to conducting the next SLR AGM
- The case filed by SLR against the Ministry of Sports challenging its 1 April gazette was taken up at the Court of Appeal on 4 May and was rescheduled for coming 12 May
- Due to the prevailing volatile situation in the country, the 12 May court hearing was rescheduled to 26 May but was later taken up on Friday (13) through a special motion due to the urgency of the issue
Namal’s gazette notification on Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) likely to be revoked, Rizly Illyas’ committee to be reinstated?
13 May 2022
Namal’s gazette notification on Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) likely to be revoked, Rizly Illyas’ committee to be reinstated?
13 May 2022
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