Rugby fraternity awaits rescinding of Gazette by Sports Minister

Former Sports and Youth Affairs Minister suspended the registration of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) on 1 April 2022 by the Gazette bearing no. 2273. This began a tug-of-war between the Ministry and SLR, which now has come to another crucial juncture.

Back then, while the Gazette was released, Yoshitha Rajapaksa announced his retirement from rugby and expressed his interest to join the Administration of Rugby Football. However, Rizly Illyas, President of SLR went to the Court of Appeal against this unreasonable order made by the former Minister stating that said order is void, illegal and of no effect in as much as it was made totally without jurisdiction and mala-fide and for a collateral purpose. Illyas and the SLR instituted the case bearing No. 148/2022 in Court of Appeal and it was supported on 13 May 2022. The Court of Appeal on the very first date granted an interim order staying/suspending the operation of the said gazette notification and reinstating the registration of the SLR.

The said case CA 148/22 came up on 3 April for support. The Additional Solicitor General who appeared on behalf of the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs informed the Court that a motion dated 3 April 2022 was filed on record according to instructions received from the Minister. In the said motion the Minister has informed the Court that immediate steps would be taken to revoke the aforesaid gazette notification dated 1 April 2022. Thereafter the petitioner in the said case SLR President Illyas informed the Court that upon the revocation of the said Gazette he will move to withdraw the case filed against the Minister and several other officials.

The matter came up again on 6 April to see whether Illyas, was ready to withdraw the said case but Faisz Musthapa PC appeared on behalf of Illyas stated that up to date the Minister had failed to rescind the said gazette notification as stated in the said motion filed by the Attorney General on 3 April and no sooner the Minister does so the Petitioner would withdraw the matter. Accordingly as per the request made by the Additional Solicitor General who appeared on behalf of the Minister the matter was fixed for 23 May for the minister to comply with his own holding out/undertaking to the Court.

Despite several efforts from the Daily FT Sports to contact Minister Ranasinghe regarding this matter, it proved futile.

The Minister had finally understood that the said gazette notification issued on 1 April 2022 was done without any basis. The said decision of the Minister to rescind the gazette notification is welcome by all stakeholders who love the game of Rugby Football and had given a much awaited glimpse of hope that the sport that we all love will be free of undue political interference.

However, several sources have revealed that the Ministry is expected to appoint an Advisory Committee to overlook the affairs of the SLR despite the fact that the interim stay order is pending against the Minister and the other Respondents given in the said case CA 148/22. The truth behind these intentions are yet to be approved but the delay in carrying out the motion to revoke the Gazette, is taken as a worrying sign by many in the rugby fraternity.

SLR states that they are very positive and welcome the Ministers undertaking to the Court to rescind the gazette notification with open arms and are anxiously waiting until the Minister fulfils his part of the bargain and rescind the same. Given how the tug of war between these two parties have unravelled in the last two years, if Minister move to appoint an Advisory Committee or an interim Committee to interfere with the day to day affairs, SLR will not hesitate to file contempt charges against the Minister and the other respondents, i.e. Ministry Secretary and the Department of Sports Development Director General.

The whole of the rugby fraternity are waiting to see the day that they can enjoy the sport they love without any undue political interference. It’s a waiting game to see whether the Sports Minister will keep to his word or take a turn on his own undertaking given to Court as the said Gazette has not been revoked yet.