Chaos rein following SLR suspension
Just like that -- the former Minister of Sports clipped the wings of SLR for no valid reason
The country’s rugby is in a state of uncertainty, following the suspension of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) by the Sports Ministry and handing it over to a competent authority — the Director General of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports, Amal Edirosooriya, without a proper explanation.
But overriding the decision taken on April 1, 2022 by the now vacant Minister of Sports, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) and World Rugby (WR) have duly identified the SLR administration under Rizly Ilyas, as the ‘sole representatives’ of rugby in Sri Lanka.
In a letter dated April 8, 2022, NOC, signed by its General Secretary, Maxwell de Silva, explains that ‘this matter has been brought to the notice of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
“And the official position is that IOC/OCA does not recognise any appointed interim committee nor any interim arrangements made by the Ministry in terms of the sports law and affairs of the SLR to be governed by its constitution,” states the letter, which has been copied to Jerome Poivey of IOC, Haider Framan of OCA, Bill Beaumont, the Chairman of WR, Qais Al-Dhalai, President of Asia Rugby, Anuradha Wijekoon, the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Amal Edirisooriya, the Director General of Sports, Department of Sports, who is interestingly the competent authority now in-charge of rugby.
However, all functions related to rugby has come to a standstill despite the latest development, even the ongoing SLR Nippon Paint Club Rugby League 2022 coming to a abrupt halt. According to the latest development as of yesterday, Rizly Ilyas, the now former President of SLR told the Sunday Times that the taking over of rugby affair by the competent authority will only deepen the crisis, as WR, Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU), NOC, IOC and OAC have identified SLR’s administration as the duly elected authority of rugby in Sri Lanka.
“This is an sinister move with hidden motives as we understand. How can a competent authority suddenly parachute and take complete authority of any sport, without a valid cause or reason. They haven’t properly told SLR what’s the real reason behind this so-called suspension and even the Gazette Notification does not explain of how matters will be handled. The competent authority does not have the power to appoint sub committees as they were duly appointed by the Council of SLR,” Ilyas explained, while questioning the sudden move.
It is learnt that Edirisooriya, the competent authority of rugby as per the Extraordinary Gazette Notification issued on April 1, 2022, temporarily suspending the SLR administration, had called the SLR office on Friday and instructed its permanent employees to follow his instructions henceforth. The flummoxed SLR staff, had sought advice from Ilyas, who apparently had no proper answer to provide.
“Yes, SLR is currently under me as the competent authority, and the suspended officials have no power to govern the sport after the issuance of the Gazette Notification from April 1, 2022,” Edirisooriya confirmed to the Sunday Times.
While Ilyas spells out of possible heavy repercussions, if the reigns are not properly handed over to a duly elected body to run the affairs of rugby, Edirisooriya stated that the ongoing SLR Nippon Paint Club Rugby League 2022 has been ceased temporarily to conduct the Inter-Club 7s Tournament with immediate effect.
“The priority is to select a national 7s team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022, other tournaments can wait until that process completes. The team should be sent for approval soon,” Edirisooriya stated, perhaps unaware of the fact that he nor the Ministry of Sports cannot select or recommend any team to international events, especially coming under the wings of IOC, such as the Commonwealth Games.
It is now clear that Sri Lanka’s representation of the national rugby team at the Commonwealth Games 2022, to be held in Birmingham, England, will not be recognised under a competent authority, appointed by the now-inexistent Minister of Sport, Namal Rajapaksa. In addition to NOC, World Rugby (WR), on April 8, issued an official letter relating to SLR’s latest development, in which confirms that it confirms SLR is currently a Full Member of WR.
“World Rugby has been kept copied on the ongoing communications between Sri Lanka Rugby and the Sri Lanka Ministry of Sports. We have requested that we are kept updated on any future discussions,” the letter signed by Ridzal Saat, the Rugby Partnership Manager (Asia) of WR, states.
In addition, the former SLR President also accuses the Ministry of Sports and its competent authority of attempting to access its bank accounts without proper and procedural approval. This was mentioned in a strongly-worded letter sent to all relevant higher authorities by SLR.
“The order made by the former Minister was entirely politically motivated by a vested interest in taking over a duly elected body. Given the above facts, SLR vehemently will not accept the contents of your letter and shall continue to carry out its matters independently. Your actions of operating any of SLR bank accounts without our approval would be a gross violation. These funds are from our SLR sponsors and World Rugby to be utilised for specific projects for SLR. We will be forced to bring about criminal financial charges on you if these funds are misused without SLR Council approval,” the letter states.
Under this context, it is reliably learnt that SLR’s new sponsors, Nippon Paint, has shown their displeasure on the sudden takeover and are unwilling to cooperate with political institutions, such as the Ministry of Sports. This came to light with the disapproval of temporarily suspending SLR being discussed even with the main sponsor’s head office in Japan, who are keeping a close eye on the current political turmoil Sri Lanka’s going through.
It is yet unclear if top division clubs would work alongside with an entity other than their parent body, the SLR on immediate and upcoming regional and international commitments, as suddenly the whole operation of SLR bypasses its procedures, officially and technically.
The Gazette Notification issued on April 1, did not clarify as to why or on what grounds the so-called ‘temporary suspension’ comes to effect, other than the ‘powers vested in Namal Rajapaksha, the Minister of Youth and Sports, under Section 32 (b) and 33 of Sports Act. No. 25 of 1973 and its amendments. It was later revealed by Edirisooriya that SLR was suspended due to holding council meetings with ‘suspended provincial bodies included. But SLR clarified that all matters related to the suspensions were duly resolved with proper documented correspondents between SLR and the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports, Anuruddha Wijekoon many moons ago. Wijekoon may have to recall the documents following the responses of NOC and WR.
“National Colympic Committee of Sri Lanka recognises only you and your team as the sole representatives of Sri Lanka Rugby and your elections to be conducted as per the SLR Constitution and NOC Sri Lanka to be consulted when holding elections which please be guided,” in conclusion says in the send to Ilyas by NOC.