The Court of Appeal has refused to issue an interim order suspending the Gazette notification which had suspended the registration of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and appointed a Stabilization Committee to manage the sport.
However, a two-judge-bench of the Court of Appeal on Friday made an order issuing notice to the Respondents including the Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe and the members of the newly appointed stabilization Committee in the matter bearing No. CA (Writ) 204/2023.
The Court of Appeal in its order granted an interim order preventing the Sports Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Director General of the Department of Sports Development from interfering in the affairs of SLR until the final determination of the matter.
However, the Court of Appeal refused the main interim order prayed for by former SLR president Rizly Illyas and the former officer bearers of SLR, which was the suspension of the Gazette Notification bearing No. 2327/07 dated 11th April 2023 whereby the Minister of Sports had suspended the registration of SLR and appointed a Stabilization Committee to manage the affairs of the sport.
This order by the Court of Appeal represents a significant blow to Illyas and the other former office bearers of SLR who had filed this writ application for the primary purpose of taking back control of rugby administration from the stabilization committee.
To make matters worse for Illyas, the legal counsel for the Minister of Sports submitted to court on Friday that the appeal filed by Illyas against his expulsion from Asia Rugby was denied.
“Asia Rugby led by its principles of Transparency and Accountability appointed an Appeal Panel in March 2023 to address the appeal of Mr. Mohamed Rizly Mohamed Illyas, the President of the suspended Sri Lanka Rugby union,” according to a statement issued by Asia Rugby.
“Mr. Illyas was found guilty on charges of breaching Asia Rugby’s Code of Conduct by the Asia Rugby Executive Committee based on a thorough investigation by a Judicial Officer. Mr. Illyas was given the opportunity to appeal, and the appointed Appeal Panel chaired by the President of Qazakhstan Rugby Ms. Aigul Jartybayeva with the membership of Mr. Jeffry Chang the President of Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union and Mr. David Boyton, Judicial Officer from Hong Kong dismissed the appeal after comprehensive evaluation,” it stated.