SLR President Rizly Ilyas welcomes withdrawal of gazette

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal recently that the current Sports Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe has decided to withdraw the gazette notice issued by former Sports Minister, Namal Rajapaksa suspending the administration of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).

Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardana, who represented the Minister of Sports and the Attorney General, informed this when a writ petition was called challenging the Gazette Notification issued on 1 April 2022 be suspended and a competent authority be appointed instead. 

Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardana, who appeared for the Attorney General, stated that the minister informed him that it has been decided to withdraw the gazette notification. 

SLR President Rizly Ilyas speaking to Daily FT said: “We at SLR are happy that the Sports Minister took the correct decision ─ this was possible after the minister sent the Director General, Amal Edirisooriya home. It’s very clear when the interim relief was granted for SLR the court instructed the 4th responded DG to bring together a meeting with the incumbent new minister SLR and both provincial unions to sort out the matter, bug although we SLR reminded the DG and the earlier Secretary Dr. Amal Edirisooriya both of them failed to look into the court order and clear direction given.” Speaking further Rizly said: “Further I would like to state once the gazette is revoked or in court the same day the matter with the Western Province Rugby Union and the Uva Province Rugby Union should be null and void as in 2020 at the SLR council meeting both the provinces were accepted in by the SLR council as per SLR constitution and we SLR has intimated this to them secretary of sports in 2020 and his office has acknowledged and accepted the letter with council minutes and all necessary documents relating to same under 2020 SLR Secretary, Jude Dimitri.

Rizly went on to say this could be the calm before the storm as several interested persons including the immediate two past Presidents are keen in representing SLR at the World Cup in France and at the Asian Games in China.

Sri Lanka rugby was represented by the  following legal team; Dr. Faisz Musthapha PC, Keerthi Tillekaratne Barrister at Law, Attorney at Law, Panduka Keerthinanda Attorney-at-Law Legal consultant Sri Lanka Rugby