WR insists Illyas to step down
Illyas remained suspended by AR since last year after he was found guilty of breaching Asia Rugby’s Code of Conduct by the Executive Committee based on a thorough investigation by a judicial officer. The Asia Rugby Appeal Panel rejected Illyas’ appeal as it upheld its suspension of Illyas.
Accordingly, World Rugby has given time till Monday (21) for Illyas to notify of his acceptance of the disciplinary sanction by AR and step down from the post of SLR President.
WR has reminded SLR that the failure to acknowledge the suspension and resign from the post may potentially lead Illyas being suspended for an extended period of time. His resignation, WR says will help Sri Lanka move forward with the rest of the members elected.
Sources said at one stage Illyas was ready to step down but has had a change of hearts, extending the uncertainly surrounding the game’s administration.
Though WR backed Illyas and his committee initially despite the AR suspension and htey suspended Sri Lanka’s membership citing political interference after the Minister of Sports appointed a Stabilisation committee to run the affairs of the local body. But matters took a turn shortly after representatives of WR arrived in Sri Lanka on July 4 to review the membership status of SLR.
David Carrigy, the Chief International Relations and Participation Officer of WR and Ridzal Saat, the Regional Partnership Manager of WR were in Sri Lanka to meet stakeholders of rugby, including the duly elected SLR Executive Committee, the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports officials. They met almost all top officials of rugby in Sri Lanka but Illyas, who was suspended by the time WR officials arrived.
SLR was initially suspended on April 1 of 2022 by the then Minister of Sports, without proper reasoning, and AR followed it by banning Sri Lanka, to which the SLR administration responded as political interference. The SLR administration was not given a valid reason for the suspension and as a result the matter was taken to the Court of Appeal by the elected administration.
The Court of Appeal re-fixed the hearing for April 6 to enable the minister to take steps to revoke the Gazette Notification. However the minister requested a period of one month from the Court of Appeal to take necessary steps to revoke the Gazette.
The minister, on April 10, revoked the previous Gazette Notification and the very next day the minister issued a fresh Gazette Notification stating that SLR’s registration is suspended again. The minister later appointed a Stabilization Committee, to manage the affairs of SLR.
With the global suspension Sri Lanka is barred from taking part at any competition outside Sri Lanka, but WR altered its decision to allow the Sri Lanka men’s 7s team to take parts at the Asian Games 2023 under the NOC flag.