Suspended SLR chief seeks impartial inquiry into misconduct

Suspended Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) President Rizly Illyas yesterday urged the authorities to conduct an impartial inquiry to clear his image and reputation as a veteran sports administrator.

Asia Rugby (AR) Executive Committee suspended Illyas from participating in any rugby duties, activities, and responsibilities within the jurisdiction of AR until the pending investigation is concluded.

The suspension was imposed on Illyas in line with AR principles of Equality, Transparency and Accountability, due to investigations into a potential breach of AR’s Code of Conduct.

“They have put the cart before the horse. If you go through the World Rugby laws, any kind of suspension should be handed after a fair inquiry. But they have given a suspension without an inquiry,” Illyas commented.

Meanwhile, SLR Constitution says that “any person shall be disqualified from being elected or otherwise to hold or continue to hold any paid or unpaid office or to hold any paid or unpaid post or to be a member of the Council or to be a nominee of any affiliated Union, Association or Society if he is serving a suspension imposed by the Council or by any of its Affiliate Members or any Regional or International Rugby Body or a period of two years have not lapsed after serving such suspension on the date of submission of nomination.”

However, Illyas said that the suspension is under the jurisdiction of AR, and it does not account to SLR.

“We had Council Meetings and we had 30 clubs and 30 representatives and any of them can ask that question from me but none of them have questioned me.”

“They have suspended me, and I have show cause them that they have done a wrong thing and in return they have said they will start the inquiry. They have an AR panel, and I am going to object because it is not an independent panel.”

The adjudication hearing will now take place on September 3 at 11.00 a.m. via zoom platform.