New SLR chief Illyas carries baggage of 51 million
Former Petersons number 8 Rizly Illyas officially took over as President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) with plenty of goodwill despite some acrimony with the outgoing President Lasitha Gunaratne leading up to the Annual General Meeting held yesterday. But it comes with a baggage of 51 million rupees carried over from previous administrations.
A third of it, spent on national age group tours beginning from the presidency of Asanga Seneviratne, is likely to be waived off since the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association refuses to consider it as their liability while SLR has to foot the bill to promote women’s rugby development.
No wonder Illyas’ first priority is finding money to run the sport even as more than 100 past officials, players, corporates and friends of the new SLR chief gathered at the Liberty Ballroom of Hotel Ramada to wish him well.
“There are funds available in the market. In Sri Lanka you have people who have the marketing budget but now they are thinking where to put the money. It’s just that we should be able to reach them. I have brought people like Ashantha de Mel into the ExCo and Gihan Karunaratne who is also connected to Hayleys. We have calibre of people who can go and do a presentation. That energy I have for me to find the money,” said Illyas confidently.
He shot down the notion that SLR would run behind Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, a former national rugby captain, with a begging bowl.
“As I said before we have rugby blood in the family that is ruling the country and we like to use it positively. Through rugby I got very close to their family when I was secretary of the Union (SLR). Even when I was at the Western Province (RFU), I have seen those boys playing for College and WP tournaments. I am very happy that he is there because he will look at the positive and negative sides of it,” said Illyas striking a personal note.
However, he ruled out an early return to rugby without adhering to stringent health regulations.
“The million dollar question is when rugby is going to start. Even if I get the sanction and play rugby, I might not allow the crowds to come because at the end of the day you can’t stop rugby fans going and hugging the players, talking to them and being close to them. You need to make some sacrifices,” he said.
Among the decisions taken at the AGM was to induct 11 former players and officials as Life Members of SLR. They are Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetilleke. S/DIG (Rtd) Nimal Lewke, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Harsha Mayadunne, DIG (Rtd) M.H. Marso. Asanga Senevirathne, Priyantha Ekanayake, Kishin Butani, C.P.P. Abeygunawardena, Mohan Samarakoon, Cicero de Fonseka and Arjan Dharmadasa.