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World Rugby Suspends Sri Lanka Rugby

Published

3 years ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

The World Rugby (WR) Council met on 11 May and considered the ongoing membership of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR). Subsequent to the meeting, by letter dated 17 May 2023 addressed to Hasan Sinhawansa, Executive Director of Sri Lanka Rugby, World Rugby (WR) has advised they have decided to suspend the membership of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR). The suspension effectively means Sri Lanka will be unable to take part in any tournament outside the country.

The Minister of Sports reinstated SLR as a sports federation in Sri Lanka under the temporary operational control of a Stabilization Committee recently. However, World Rugby considers the action contrary to the bye-laws of World Rugby.

World Rugby Council considered a recommendation of the executive board and accepted the proposal to suspend SLR following the bye-laws relating to political interference.

WR agreed that they and Asia Rugby would work with all stakeholders to ensure the least possible disruption to rugby in Sri Lanka. The priority of WR is to work with all stakeholders to resolve ongoing governance issues urgently.

Previously, the Secretary to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), by letter dated 3 May 2023 addressed to the Chairman of World Rugby, advised that they recognize only the duly elected committee headed by Rizly Illyas.

Furthermore, the letter stated that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) does not recognize the appointment of the Stabilization Committee or other interim arrangement made by the Sports Ministry in terms of the Sports Law. NOCSL stated they identify only the duly elected committee of the Sports Federation according to the constitution approved by World Rugby.

Earlier in January, Sri Lankan football fans also had a rude shock when news broke that the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) had been suspended by the international football governing body FIFA until further notice due to third-party interference.

ලෝක රග්බි ශ්‍රී ලංකා රග්බි ක්‍රීඩාව අත්හිටුවයි

ලෝක රග්බි (WR) කවුන්සිලය මැයි 11 දින රැස් වූ අතර ශ්‍රී ලංකා රග්බි (SLR) හි දැනට පවතින සාමාජිකත්වය පිළිබඳව සලකා බලන ලදී. රැස්වීමෙන් අනතුරුව, ශ්‍රී ලංකා රග්බි, ලෝක රග්බි (WR) හි විධායක අධ්‍යක්ෂ හසන් සිංහවංශ වෙත 2023 මැයි 17 දිනැති ලිපියක් මගින් ශ්‍රී ලංකා රග්බි (SLR) සාමාජිකත්වය අත්හිටුවීමට තීරණය කර ඇති බව උපදෙස් දී ඇත. මෙම තහනම හේතුවෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට රටින් පිටත කිසිදු තරඟාවලියකට සහභාගී වීමට නොහැකි වනු ඇත.

ස්ථායීකරණ කමිටුවක තාවකාලික මෙහෙයුම් පාලනය යටතේ ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යවරයා විසින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ක්‍රීඩා සම්මේලනයක් ලෙස SLR නැවත ස්ථාපිත කරන ලදී. කෙසේ වෙතත්, ලෝක රග්බි ක්‍රියාව ලෝක රග්බි ක්‍රීඩාවේ අතුරු නීතිවලට පටහැනි බව සලකයි.

ලෝක රග්බි කවුන්සිලය විධායක මණ්ඩලයේ නිර්දේශයක් සලකා බැලූ අතර දේශපාලන ඇඟිලි ගැසීම් සම්බන්ධ අතුරු නීති අනුගමනය කරමින් SLR අත්හිටුවීමේ යෝජනාව පිළිගත්තේය.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ රග්බි ක්‍රීඩාවට සිදුවිය හැකි අවම බාධාව සහතික කිරීම සඳහා ඔවුන් සහ ඒෂියා රග්බි සියලු පාර්ශවකරුවන් සමඟ කටයුතු කරන බවට WR එකඟ විය. WR හි ප්‍රමුඛතාවය වන්නේ දැනට පවතින පාලන ගැටළු කඩිනමින් විසඳීම සඳහා සියලුම පාර්ශවකරුවන් සමඟ කටයුතු කිරීමයි.

මීට පෙර, ශ්‍රී ලංකා ජාතික ඔලිම්පික් කමිටුවේ (NOCSL) ලේකම් විසින් 2023 මැයි 3 දිනැති ලිපියක් මගින් ලෝක රග්බි සභාපතිවරයාට යවන ලද ලිපියක් මගින් උපදෙස් දුන්නේ රිස්ලි ඉල්ලියාස්ගේ ප්‍රධානත්වයෙන් යුත් නිසි පරිදි තේරී පත් වූ කමිටුව පමණක් පිළිගන්නා ලෙසයි.
තවද, ජාත්‍යන්තර ඔලිම්පික් කමිටුව (IOC) සහ ආසියානු ඔලිම්පික් කමිටුව (OCA) ස්ථායීකරණ කමිටුව පත් කිරීම හෝ ක්‍රීඩා නීතියට අනුව ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යාංශය විසින් කරන ලද වෙනත් අතුරු වැඩපිළිවෙලක් පිළි නොගන්නා බව එම ලිපියේ සඳහන් වේ. NOCSL ප්‍රකාශ කළේ ලෝක රග්බි විසින් අනුමත කරන ලද ව්‍යවස්ථාවට අනුව ක්‍රීඩා සම්මේලනයේ නිසි පරිදි තේරී පත් වූ කමිටුව පමණක් ඔවුන් හඳුනා ගන්නා බවයි.

ජනවාරි මස මුලදී, ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය (FFSL) තුන්වන පාර්ශ්වයේ මැදිහත්වීම් හේතුවෙන් නැවත දැනුම් දෙන තුරු ජාත්‍යන්තර පාපන්දු පාලක මණ්ඩලය වන FIFA විසින් අත්හිටුවා ඇති බවට ප්‍රවෘත්ති පළ වූ විට ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු ලෝලීන් ද දැඩි කම්පනයකට පත් විය.

உலக ரக்பி இலங்கை ரக்பியை இடைநிருத்தியது

உலக ரக்பி (WR) கவுன்சில் மே 11 அன்று கூடியது மற்றும் இலங்கை ரக்பியின் (SLR) தற்போதைய உறுப்பினர் குறித்து பரிசீலித்தது. கூட்டத்திற்குப் பிறகு, 2023 மே 17 தேதியிட்ட கடிதம் மூலம், இலங்கை ரக்பி, வேர்ல்ட் ரக்பியின் (WR) நிறைவேற்றுப் பணிப்பாளர் ஹசன் சின்ஹவன்ச, இலங்கை ரக்பியின் (SLR) அங்கத்துவத்தை இடைநிறுத்தத் தீர்மானித்துள்ளதாக அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளார். இந்த இடைநிறுத்தம் இலங்கையால் நாட்டிற்கு வெளியே எந்தவொரு போட்டியிலும் பங்கேற்க முடியாது.

விளையாட்டு அமைச்சர் SLR ஐ இலங்கையில் விளையாட்டுக் கூட்டமைப்பாக மீண்டும் நிலைப்படுத்துதல் குழுவின் தற்காலிக செயல்பாட்டுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டின் கீழ் மீண்டும் நிறுவினார். இருப்பினும், உலக ரக்பியின் துணை விதிகளுக்கு முரணான செயலை உலக ரக்பி கருதுகிறது.

உலக ரக்பி கவுன்சில் நிர்வாகக் குழுவின் பரிந்துரையைப் பரிசீலித்தது மற்றும் அரசியல் தலையீடு தொடர்பான துணைச் சட்டங்களைப் பின்பற்றி SLR ஐ இடைநிறுத்துவதற்கான முன்மொழிவை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டது.

இலங்கையில் றக்பிக்கு குறைந்த பட்ச இடையூறு ஏற்படுவதை உறுதி செய்வதற்காக தாங்களும் Asia Rugbyயும் அனைத்து பங்குதாரர்களுடனும் இணைந்து செயல்படுவதாக WR ஒப்புக்கொண்டது. WR இன் முன்னுரிமை, தற்போதைய நிர்வாகச் சிக்கல்களை அவசரமாகத் தீர்க்க அனைத்து பங்குதாரர்களுடனும் இணைந்து பணியாற்றுவதாகும்.

முன்னதாக, இலங்கை தேசிய ஒலிம்பிக் குழுவின் செயலாளர் (NOCSL), உலக ரக்பியின் தலைவருக்கு 3 மே 2023 தேதியிட்ட கடிதம் மூலம், ரிஸ்லி இல்யாஸ் தலைமையிலான முறையாக தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட குழுவை மட்டுமே அங்கீகரிக்க வேண்டும் என்று அறிவுறுத்தினார்.

மேலும், சர்வதேச ஒலிம்பிக் கமிட்டி (ஐஓசி) மற்றும் ஆசிய ஒலிம்பிக் கமிட்டி (ஓசிஏ) ஆகியவை விளையாட்டு சட்டத்தின் அடிப்படையில் விளையாட்டு அமைச்சகத்தால் செய்யப்பட்ட ஸ்திரப்படுத்தல் குழு அல்லது பிற இடைக்கால ஏற்பாட்டின் நியமனத்தை அங்கீகரிக்கவில்லை என்று கடிதத்தில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. உலக ரக்பியால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட அரசியலமைப்பின்படி விளையாட்டுக் கூட்டமைப்பிற்கு முறையாகத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட குழுவை மட்டுமே அவர்கள் அடையாளம் காட்டுவதாக NOCSL கூறியது.

ஜனவரியில், மூன்றாம் தரப்பினரின் குறுக்கீடு காரணமாக, இலங்கை கால்பந்து சம்மேளனம் (FFSL) சர்வதேச கால்பந்து நிர்வாக அமைப்பான FIFAவினால் மறு அறிவிப்பு வரும் வரை இடைநிறுத்தப்பட்டதாக செய்தி வெளியானபோது, இலங்கை கால்பந்து ரசிகர்களும் ஒரு முரட்டுத்தனமான அதிர்ச்சியை அடைந்தனர்.

Cricket

Navin Dissanayake Concedes Error Over 2015 Sri Lanka Cricket Election

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Editor

Former Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake has admitted that his decision in 2015 to cancel the Sri Lanka Cricket elections and appoint an Interim Committee was a serious mistake. The move, which blocked Nishantha Ranatunga from becoming president, has long been debated in cricketing circles, and Dissanayake’s recent reflection has reignited discussion about missed opportunities in the sport’s governance.

In a candid post on X, Dissanayake acknowledged that he should have supported Ranatunga, who served as SLC Secretary from 2009 to 2015. That period is widely regarded as one of the most successful eras in Sri Lankan cricket, with the national team reaching multiple finals and securing major titles. “In hindsight I should have backed Nishantha and ensured he won the election without problems with the ICC,” Dissanayake wrote, admitting regret over his decision. He revealed that despite warnings from advisors that the International Cricket Council would not approve an Interim Committee, he went ahead with the appointment, leading to two years of negotiations over reforms. He also pointed to political interference at the time, saying the environment did not allow him to support Ranatunga’s election.

Ranatunga’s tenure as Secretary coincided with a golden run for Sri Lanka. Between 2009 and 2015, the team reached the finals of the 2009 T20 World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2012 T20 World Cup, before finally clinching the 2014 T20 World Cup and the 2014 Asia Cup. Serving under presidents DS de Silva, Upali Dharmadasa, and Jayantha Dharmadasa, Ranatunga was credited with a steady and effective administrative role that helped guide the team through this remarkable period.

Dissanayake’s admission comes at a time when Sri Lankan cricket is once again under scrutiny, following a disastrous campaign at the ongoing T20 World Cup. His remarks have reopened old wounds and revived questions about what might have been had Ranatunga been elected in 2015. With the sport facing another crossroads, the former minister’s reflection underscores the long-standing challenges of governance and political interference in cricket administration, and the lingering sense of opportunities lost.

Cricket

Hasini’s Half-Century Powers Sri Lanka Women to Historic Series Win in the Caribbean

Published

9 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team scripted history on Tuesday night by clinching their first-ever T20 series win in the Caribbean, sealing the three-match series 2-0 with a commanding nine-wicket victory over West Indies women’s national cricket team at St. George’s.

After the opening match was washed out, Sri Lanka seized control by winning the second T20. Their emphatic performance in the decider capped off a memorable tour, having already secured the ODI series 2-1.

Disciplined Bowling Effort

Batting first, West Indies Women posted 119/5 in their 20 overs. A fluent 32 off 15 balls from Chinelle Henry provided early momentum, while Deandra Dottin (28) and Stafanie Taylor (24) attempted to stabilise the innings.

However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained tight control. Inoka Ranaweera was outstanding with figures of 2/16, while Sugandika Kumari supported with two wickets. Kavisha Dilhari also chipped in with a tidy spell.

Composed Chase Seals the Series

Chasing 120, Sri Lanka’s batting unit delivered with confidence and composure. Captain Chamari Athapaththu set the tone with a brisk 32 off 22 balls, striking five boundaries to put the visitors ahead of the required rate.

Following her dismissal, Hasini Perera anchored the innings superbly, crafting an unbeaten 52 from 59 deliveries. She was well supported by Imesha Dulani, who struck an aggressive 34 off 25 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to 121/1 in 17.4 overs.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka Women, underlining their growing confidence and consistency on the international stage.

Brief Scores

West Indies Women – 119/5 (20 overs)
Chinelle Henry 32* (15), Deandra Dottin 28 (39), Stafanie Taylor 24 (39)
Inoka Ranaweera 2/16, Sugandika Kumari 2/32, Kavisha Dilhari 1/13

Sri Lanka Women – 121/1 (17.4 overs)
Hasini Perera 52* (59), Imesha Dulani 34* (25), Chamari Athapaththu 32 (22)
Afy Fletcher 1/14

Cricket

Rising Middle East Tensions Cast Doubt on Sri Lanka–Afghanistan Series in UAE

Published

10 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka’s upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates is facing uncertainty amid escalating tensions in parts of the Middle East.

The tour, scheduled from March 13 to 25, includes three T20 Internationals in Sharjah and three One Day Internationals in Dubai. However, growing regional instability has raised concerns over security, travel logistics, and overall feasibility.

Recent developments in the region have prompted several airlines to suspend or adjust services near key transport corridors, creating additional challenges for team travel and operational planning.

Sri Lanka Cricket is understood to be closely monitoring the evolving situation, with player and staff safety remaining the top priority. Should conditions fail to stabilize, the board may be compelled to reconsider or postpone the tour. Afghanistan could also encounter logistical difficulties under the current circumstances.

The series was viewed as important preparation for both teams ahead of a demanding international schedule. Sri Lanka were expected to assess emerging talent in white-ball formats, while Afghanistan aimed to consolidate momentum from recent performances.

With regional tensions continuing to unfold, a final decision regarding the series is anticipated in the coming days. Until then, the tour remains uncertain, highlighting how external factors can impact the international cricket calendar.