The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) has sprung to the defence of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) recognising it as the legitimate governing body despite SLR being sacked by the Ministry of Sports.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe appointed a nine-member Stabilisation Committee headed by former Sri Lanka player Chula Dharmadasa after dissolving SLR on April 11.
The Minister’s committee, appointed for a six-month term, has been tasked with restructuring the provincial system of governance at SLR and granting voting rights to the founding A division clubs in the country.
The Ministry decision has been challenged in court by SLR.
In a letter addressed to Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby, NOCSL secretary general Maxwell de Silva has stated that they only recognise the duly elected committee of a national federation and not any stop-gap or interim committee appointed by the government.
The NOCSL maintains that having brought this matter to the notice of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the official position of the IOC and OCA does not recognize the appointed Stabilisation Committee of the Ministry in terms of the Sports Law.
“In the case of SLR, we only recognise the duly elected committee headed by Mr Rizly Illyas who is the elected president of SLR, elections of SLR to be conducted as per its Constitution and NOC Sri Lanka to be consulted when holding elections,” he further stated in the letter which was copied to Jerome Poviey, IOC, Haider Framan, OCA, Qais Al Dhalai, president Asia Rugby, Alan Gilpin, CEO World Rugby, K Mahesan, Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Anura Muthumala, Acting Director General of Sports, Department of Sports Development and Rizly Illyas, president Sri Lanka Rugby.
Asia Rugby lifted the suspension of SLR immediately following the decisions taken by Sports Minister Ranasinghe such as cancellation of the gazette notification dated April 1, 2022.
However, SLR president Ilyas remains suspended by the Asian rugby body from June 2022 as a consequence of investigations into a potential breach of Asia Rugby’s Code of Conduct.
Asia Rugby president Qais al Dhalai stated: “The EXCO’s decision to suspend Sri Lanka Rugby’s membership was made in accordance with Asia Rugby’s Articles and Regulations to maintain our principles of equality, transparency and accountability. I am pleased to hear about the withdrawal of the gazette notification, making it possible for Asia Rugby to lift the suspension.”
Al Dhalai further added, “We look forward to welcoming Sri Lanka teams back to Asia Rugby competitions.”
Asia Rugby suspended SLR in May 2022 and Sri Lanka’s junior and senior rugby teams were deprived of participating in regular international competitions.
Sri Lanka took part in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and were allowed to compete in the two legs of the Asia Rugby Sevens series under the NOCSL flag following discussions NOCSL president Suresh Subramaniam had with the Asia Rugby president.
Sri Lanka’s next major international assignment is the Asian Games in China.