IBA Director Dian Gomes in Firm Control of Proceedings at the AGM
When a national sports body is run by an arrogant president who treats the law like a nuisance, who openly disregards the Ministry of Sports and its regulations, and who surrounds himself with cronies instead of professionals, you don’t need a crystal ball to predict the outcome, you just need patience. Under Anuruddha Bandara’s watch, the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has become a case study in mismanagement, financial opacity, and contempt for accountability. And with a Sports Minister asleep at the wheel, especially when it comes to boxing and a his main advisor the National Sports Council obsessed with rugby, the stage was perfectly set for the farce that unfolded at the 2025 AGM
If anyone expected the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka’s (BASL) 2025 Annual General Meeting to be a dignified, transparent and law-abiding exercise, they haven’t been paying attention. Held on 9 August 2025 at the Royal College Sports Complex (after a last-minute venue change from a corporate premises), the AGM was marred from the start by procedural breaches, missing financial reports, and blatant disregard for the constitution. Many club members complained they hadn’t even received the formal notice, which itself was unsigned, learning of the meeting only through word of mouth.
Leadership Vacuum and Constitutional Anarchy
BASL is limping along without a Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, or Assistant Secretary. Secretary Tharanga Perera, a corporate executive, resigned before the AGM, joining a growing list of officials who have walked away citing lack of transparency. Yet the president, whose own boxing credentials remain dubious continues to wield power as if BASL were his personal property.
The AGM itself was unlawful under both sports law and BASL’s constitution: it was held months past the 31 May deadline, and audited accounts, which must be circulated to members a month in advance, were missing. The excuse? The IBA sanctioned Asian Under 22 tournament that was held recently. The reality? An administration too disorganized or too secretive to meet basic obligations.
Midway through the chaos, President Bandara attempted to bulldoze through constitutional changes without having circulated the proposed amendments in advance. The move was met with fierce resistance from the membership, forcing the appointment of a Constitutional Amendment Committee under heavy pressure. Even this was stacked selectively, with capable and independent nominees, with Sri Lanka’s only World Boxing-certified official Nelka Shiromala’s name being rejected, mainly by Dian Gomes, who seemed very vocal regarding her appointment.
Dian Gomes’ Influence and IBA Loyalty
Virtually chairing most of the meeting was none other than former BASL president and current International Boxing Association (IBA) Executive Committee Director Dian Gomes. The meeting descended further into farce when Gomes, speaking partly in the vernacular and at times using slang like “bugger” and “umba,” openly defended Bandara, repeatedly pushing IBA membership despite the International Olympic Committee’s ban on the organization.
While some viewed his lingo as “relatable” to certain members, others saw it as an insult to the seriousness of the issues at hand. Gomes’ defense of the president, despite the litany of constitutional and legal breaches, raised eyebrows about his continuing influence over BASL.
Financial Black Hole
The financial state of BASL is nothing short of alarming:
- Rs. 23 million in receivables remain unexplained.
- Rs. 5 million collected for a Referees & Judges exam has been burned through, largely on unnecessary foreign trips to Seychelles and Taipei awarded to loyalists and cronies to keep them “sweet.”
- The fate of Rs. 12 million in sponsorship for the Under-22 Asian Championships is unknown.
In a brazen admission, Bandara told members he personally spent Rs. 8 million on the event but failed to disclose what BASL actually received from IBA or how it was spent. With no Treasurer and no audited accounts, there is zero accountability.
Selection Committee Farce and Club Favoritism
Discontent is also boiling over regarding the Selection Committee and the Referees & Judges Commission. Unknowns with no meaningful boxing pedigree have been appointed, while senior IBA officials have been sidelined in favor of individuals linked to certain “favored” clubs. This has fueled allegations of manipulation and bias that further erode confidence in the integrity of Sri Lankan boxing.
A Minister Out of His Depth
Under the new sports regulations introduced on 21 May 2025, national sports bodies must comply with strict procedural, financial, and governance standards or face consequences. Yet the Sports Minister has failed to act despite BASL repeatedly flouting these laws, even ignoring written complaints. It’s no wonder President Bandara and his allies behave with impunity. They know no one at the top has either the knowledge or the will to hold them to account.
The Inevitable Collapse
From concealed financial records and an illegally convened AGM, to a president scheming constitutional changes, handpicking favourites for selection, and clinging to a banned international body, the BASL now operates in defiance of not just the spirit but very likely the letter of the law.
Sri Lankan boxing is being battered into irrelevance, not by punches in the ring, but by the arrogance, lawlessness, and incompetence of those running it. And until the Ministry of Sports wakes up from its deep slumber, the sport’s reputation will remain on the canvas, knocked out cold.
Audio recording of BASL Annual General Meeting found below:
