Sri Lanka Boxing Association sparks outrage after sending athletes to Seychelles without required government clearance. The unauthorized tour, hidden from the public, violated national sports laws and exposed deep-rooted defiance and corruption within the sporting body.
How Corrupt Sporting Bodies Keep Defying the Rules: Sri Lanka Boxing Association Caught in Unauthorized Overseas Tour
In yet another glaring example of how sports associations in Sri Lanka continue to flout the rules with impunity, the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has been caught red-handed sending athletes and officials to an international boxing event in Seychelles without obtaining the required approvals from the country’s ultimate sports authority.
The so-called “Independence Anniversary Celebrations Boxing Competition,” held in Seychelles on June 20 and 21, 2025, has now become the center of controversy not for the medals won, but for the disgraceful manner in which Sri Lankan participation was orchestrated in complete violation of the National Sports Regulations.
While BASL had officially requested permission from the Ministry of Sports, no formal clearance had been granted at the time of departure. As per established protocol, such approval must come through the National Sports Selection Committee and receive final sign-off from the Ministry. These procedures were entirely bypassed.
In a shocking display of disregard for national regulations, three boxers representing private clubs Sylvester BS, Back to Fit, and Infinity Boxing were allowed to travel to Seychelles and compete internationally. Even more alarming is the fact that they were accompanied by the Secretary of the Boxing Association and a 2-star national coach, Mr. Sanjeewa Dissanayake, giving the entire trip a veil of official sanction when, in fact, it had none.
Adding insult to injury, Sri Lankan Army boxers, who had received complimentary airline tickets to attend the same event, were blocked from participation because they had followed proper protocol and respected the lack of ministry clearance. In contrast, the unauthorized contingent proceeded as if the rules simply didn’t apply to them.
The violations don’t stop there. The National Sports Regulations specifically Sections 10, Paragraphs 2, 6, 7, and 8—clearly prohibit international representation without ministerial approval. Additionally, no athlete is permitted to wear national colors, symbols, or flags at foreign events without written consent. Yet in Seychelles, these boxers reportedly donned national symbols and competed under Sri Lanka’s banner completely illegally.
Even more disturbing is the clandestine nature of the trip. The delegation’s departure was never made public. Only after one of the boxers won a medal did the Association publicize the news on PeoTV and social media, prompting national congratulations an illusion built on a foundation of illegality.
A letter circulated by the Boxing Selection Committee, signed by its chairman and members, cited these boxers as “Priority No. 1 National Pool athletes” based on internal selection criteria shared among BASL executives and club affiliates. But without Ministry endorsement, such a selection is null and void under the law.
All this comes against the backdrop of a larger issue: the BASL’s alignment with the banned International Boxing Association (IBA) a body officially de-recognized by the International Olympic Committee. As a result, the BASL has not registered with World Boxing, the legitimate Olympic-recognized body. Due to this ongoing defiance, the BASL is currently not a member of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) a national embarrassment in itself.
This entire episode raises grave questions that demand answers:
- Who greenlit the unauthorized travel when the Ministry had not approved it?
- Why was the entire trip kept hidden from the public?
- What gave BASL the audacity to let athletes represent the country unlawfully?
While some might be tempted to focus on the medal and celebrate the athlete’s success, the reality is far more troubling. The achievement is marred by the blatant disregard for national sporting laws, undermining the very fabric of integrity and fairness that sport is meant to uphold.
The Ministry of Sports now faces a critical test. Will it uphold the law and hold those responsible to account? Or will this be yet another incident swept under the rug another chapter in the growing saga of corruption and cronyism in Sri Lankan sport?
Unless decisive action is taken, the real losers will not just be the athletes who followed the rules—but the future of honest sport in Sri Lanka.
The original team of seven selected. However with no Ministry of Sports approval obtained the five SL Army boxers were unable to go. However boxers mentioned as No1 and No3 on the list went on the tour along with another boxer who was not selected initially.
