Beleaguered Sri Lanka Rugby president Rizly Illyas hit out at his detractors accusing them of triggering moves to oust him from the top job while claiming he is still the head of the sport’s controlling body after he sought legal redress following Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s directive to the SLR to suspend him from his functions.
On Friday lawyers for Illyas argued in the Appeal Court that Minister Ranasinghe had no powers vested in him to suspend or remove an elected official of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and that an Interim Order be issued preventing the Sports Ministry from suspending Illyas.
“I can only be removed by the Council of Sri Lanka Rugby. I am still the elected president backed by the Committee that has rejected a directive from the Minister to suspend me,” Illyas told the Sunday Observer when asked who is now running the affairs of SLR.
Following the outcome of Friday’s court proceedings, Sri Lanka Rugby’s legal team headed by Attorney at Law Shantha Jayawardena said Illyas can continue his normal functions until January 27 when the next Court hearing will be heard.
Illyas was represented in Court by former Sports Minister, President’s Council Faiz Musthafa.
Asked why SLR faced such a situation in taking rugby to court, Illyas said he believed it may have been the result of Asia Rugby suspending him six months ago over what he called “personal matters”.
But Illyas went further and accused two former administrations under SLR presidents Asanga Seneviratne and Lasitha Gunaratne of mismanaging funds that has made the current SLR membership shoulder the burden of others.
“I am paying for the sins of others. Today not just rugby, everything is politicized in this country”, said Illyas. “Past presidents left us in a financial mess and it was bad for us when we took over. The Minister must find out what happened in the past,” said Illyas.