Former SLR President seeks justice
The former President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), Rizly Illyas has made an official complaint to the Minister of Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, regarding the conduct of SLR officials during the past year, while highlighting grave concerns in connection to criminal conduct, financial mismanagement and lack of accountability occurred during the past regimes.
Rizly Illyas
The damning letter, copied to Deputy Sports Minister, the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports, as well as the 13 members of the National Sports Council (NSC), clearly highlights misconducts and financial mismanagement occurred during the period of 2012 to 2018, where SLR ended up with a staggering debt of Rs. 55 million in addition to a fine of Sterling Pounds 50,000 imposed by World Rugby (WR) for breaching Regulation 8.1 under ‘Eligibility to play for National Representative Teams’.
This was, after one of the three Emori Waqavulagi, who appeared for Sri Lanka alongside Joseph Dunn and Apisai Naqaliva, was listed to represent Fiji at the Dubai International 7s in 2015, and was forced to replace by WR after having his name registered under Sri Lanka.
The incident was taken up during a parliament debate in March where the incumbent Minister of Sports, Gamage and one of his predecessors, Namal Rajapaksa, were seen engaged in a heated verbal exchange recalling the incident occurred in 2014, which backfired on SLR with a hefty fine from WR.
“I wish to bring to public attention a matter of grave concern regarding the illegal issuance of Sri Lankan passports to Fijian nationals for the purpose of representing SLR at international tournaments. This matter was initially brought to the attention of the Hon. Minister of Sports through a formal registers letter sent by me in December 2024,” Illyas’ letter sent to the Sports Minister on May 29, stated.
“Subsequently, WR conducted an inquiry into this fraudulent act and found SLR guilty. A fine of £50,000 was imposed on SLR, which is currently being settled using funds from WR, originally intended for the development of the sport in Sri Lanka,” the letter further explained.
This incident, which occurred in 2014 and then spurred in 2015, has been swept under the carpet by SLR officials who administered since then, until Illyas, who was part of SLR’s administration from 2020 to 2023, attempted to bring it back to surface. He was ‘dishonourably discharged’ following an alleged verbal spat with the current Asian Rugby President, who is believed to have had the backing of a few Sri Lankans earlier ruled SLR.
“It appears that there are ‘wheels within wheels’ obstructing justice. If this matter is thoroughly investigated, it would require the involvement of the former Controller of Immigration and several SLR officials, all of whom may be liable for criminal charges under offences that are non-bailable. This alone may explain the conspicuous silence and inaction,” Illyas’ blistering letter outlined.
The letter mentioned five former administrators of SLR, namely Asanga Seneviratne (President 2012-14 and 16-17), Lasitha Gunaratne (Vice President 2012-14 and 16-18), Nalin de Silva (Secretary 2012-14), Rohan Gunaratne (Executive Director 2012-20) and Priyantha Ekanayake (CEO 2016-17), who is apparently the incumbent Chairman of NSC.
“It is deeply concerning to observe how the same government that is taking strong action in other areas involving false documentation and passport fraud has failed to act in this high-profile case, despite World Rugby’s own ruling clearly confirming wrongdoing by SLR in fielding ineligible players under falsified identities,” the letter mentioned, while highlighting previous attempts to bring the matters to the Sports Minister’s attention since December last year.
Following previous failed attempts, if the latest crack fails to earn a proper calling, Illyas noted that he may have to approach the country’s judicial system.
“Given this ongoing neglect, I am left with no option but to bring these matters to the attention of the media and public. Failing further, I will ensure the matter reach the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), so that the State will treat it with proper severity,” indicated Illyas, who is adamant that justice must be served to wrongdoers and those who brought disrepute to the sport.