Smear Campaign Threatens Progress of Sri Lanka Rugby | Sri Lankan Post News

“Exposing the Hypocrisy Behind Efforts to Destabilize the Nation’s Rugby Revival”

A coordinated campaign is threatening to derail the significant progress Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has made in recent years — progress achieved despite administrative hurdles and a legacy of mismanagement. At the heart of this unfolding drama is a group of individuals determined to cling to power by undermining those who are working tirelessly, and voluntarily, to rebuild the sport’s reputation and future.

In 2022, then-SLR President Rizly Illyas publicly commended Mr. Rohan Abayakoon for his generous contribution of national team jerseys and design — provided free of charge. The gesture was hailed as patriotic. Yet now, that very same act is being politically weaponized simply because Mr. Illyas is no longer at the helm.

Double standards have become the order of the day.

During Mr. Illyas’s term, coaches served the national team without pay, under official volunteer appointments. At the time, this was accepted without protest. Yet today, such measures are condemned by his own loyalists as a failure — a classic case of selective outrage.

Adding fuel to the fire is the entrenched hold on power by a select few individuals — some of whom have remained on the SLR council for an astonishing 18 to 22 years. This long-standing grip traces back to the provincial system introduced in 1992, when the founding A-division clubs handed over their voting rights in good faith, hoping to foster broader rugby development across the country. Unfortunately, that vision was never realized. Instead, the system was manipulated by opportunists who created paper clubs — clubs with no players or activity — solely to gain voting eligibility. These votes were then traded to the highest bidder or used to serve personal agendas. Their continued refusal to make way for new leadership has stifled progress and stands in sharp contrast to a new generation of professionals committed to steering the sport with integrity and purpose.

Financial mismanagement also looms large. Under Mr. Illyas, from a single 2021 sponsorship agreement, a 15% commission was deducted, and Rs. 13 million was spent solely on media and live coverage. In stark contrast, the current administration has not only managed to conduct coverage at zero cost but has also generated Rs. 4 million in revenue from media rights — a clear indicator of transparency and effective governance.

Despite these accomplishments, the current team of professionals working on a voluntary basis receives little to no recognition. Under Illyas’s rule, SLR operated more like a dictatorship, causing several council members to resign in protest. International rankings plummeted, and Sri Lanka fell to 10th place in Asia.

But things have changed. The new leadership has brought the country back into the Asian Rugby Championship and into World Cup qualifiers. Today, Sri Lanka stands 4th in Asia, having delivered close contests against rugby heavyweights like Korea and the UAE. Their professionalism has not gone unnoticed — Sri Lanka has been awarded hosting rights for the 2nd round of the Asian Sevens in Colombo this October, marking the first such honor in nearly a decade.

All this has been accomplished while SLR is still considered “defunct” on paper, a status caused by administrative collapse under the previous regime. Rather than supporting this resurrection, a small but loud group continues to attack current officials through press releases, social media, and fake profiles — spreading misinformation and targeting those trying to serve the game.

There are growing concerns that these actions aim to provoke World Rugby into suspending Sri Lanka — a move that would jeopardize the future of the sport and the dreams of countless young players. In fact, the national U-20 tour — recently revived after years of neglect — is now at risk of cancellation due to ongoing court cases initiated by Illyas and his allies. During his tenure, the junior program was brought to a complete halt, denying many young athletes their only chance to represent the nation.

The sporting community, media, and authorities are now being called upon to see through this dangerous charade. This is more than politics — it’s a battle for the soul of Sri Lanka Rugby. The time has come to stand by those who serve with integrity, to safeguard the future of the game, and to hold accountable those whose actions threaten to undo all that has been rebuilt.

The truth must prevail. Rugby deserves better.

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