Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Roshan Ranasinghe has dissolved Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) as per the provisions in sections 32 & 33 of Sports Act No.25 of 1973 and appointed a nine-member stabilization committee to govern the sport.
The rugby stabilization committee will be headed by the former national cap, past president of CR&FC and past chairman of the referee’s committee Chula Darmadasa with President Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe functioning as the secretary. The outgoing president of Havelock sports club, Thusitha Peiris will be the treasurer of the committee. The rest of the committee consists of Kishan Musafar, Savantha De Saram, Subash Jayathilaka, Pradeep Basnayake, Brig. Sunil Ranasinghe and Dhamith Vitharanage.
Addressing the media at a press briefing held today (12th) at the Ministry of Sports to announce the appointment of the stabilization committee, Minister Ranasinghe clarified that he was compelled to decide on dissolving SLR and appointing a committee to stabilize the game of rugby in the country due to numerous issue that has surfaced during the previous administration. The minister went on to add that three main issues were taken into account in making the decision to dissolve the SLR committee.
Minister went on to explain that SLR had received a recommendation from the Courts to not include Uva and Western Provincial Council for the election process as the validity of the memberships of the clubs was in question but in an alleged instance of contempt of court SLR has proceeded to involve the two provincial unions as observing members at the election as well as council meetings proceeding the elections. He also added that due to the suspension that was handed to former SLR president Rizly Illiyaz by Asia Rugby, he had ordered SLR to remove Rizly Illiyaz from his position according to the powers vested on him by the Sports Act but his orders were disregarded by SLR who continued to accept Illiyaz as the president of SLR. He also added that according to the constitution of SLR and the Sports Act of the
country, any individual or association that has been banned by an International sports body is not able to function as an office bearer disregarding this was a gross violation by SLR.
He also added that he has consulted Asia Rugby and has had discussions with the President of Asia Rugby where recommendations were received on how to resolve Sri Lanka’s ban in the Asian circuit. He also added that Asia Rugby has assured him via a letter that they fully support the ministers move to appoint a stabilization committee and they had reaffirmed that they respect the right of the government of the country to intervene and regulate the respective unions. The Minster was hopeful that Asia Rugby will consider lifting the ban on Sri Lanka in the coming as a result of the ministry intervention in the matter.
The newly appointed stabilization committee will be handed the important task of restructuring the constitution of the SLR where the top eight A Division Clubs will receive a larger say at the election for the next office bearers of SLR with current control held by the provincial unions transferred to the A Division clubs.
With the dissolvement of SLR all appointments made by the previous administration are now become null and void and the media raised the question about who will take the responsibility for preparing the national sevens team for Asian Games which is scheduled to be held during September in Hangzhou, China. The newly appointed chairman of the stabilization committee, Chula Dharmadasa added that his committee will sit down within the course of the next couple of weeks and look to appoint various cub comities required to carry out important day today functions while focusing on the core task of restructuring the framework of SLR constitution.
 as per the provisions in the section 32 & 33 of Sports Act No.25 of 1973 and appointed a nine member stabilization committee to govern the sport.){kind=link}