A national tournament meant to celebrate Sri Lanka’s boxing future instead exposed rot, fear and manipulation at the very heart of the sport.
A Championship That Will Be Remembered for All the Wrong Reasons
The recently concluded National Boxing Championship at the Horana Municipal Sports Stadium will be remembered not for excellence, but as the darkest chapter in Sri Lanka Boxing history. Never before have national-level bouts produced such blatantly unclear and unjust decisions, even in fights where the rightful winner was obvious to spectators, coaches and neutral observers alike. The scale of controversial judging witnessed in Horana has no parallel in the history of the sport.
At the center of this disgrace stands its biggest victim, Umayanga Mihiran, one of Sri Lanka’s finest boxing talents. An athlete who ended a 38-year Asian medal drought, qualified for the Round of 16 at the Paris Olympic final qualification tournament and is widely regarded as a genuine Olympic prospect, Mihiran became the most visible victim of this injustice.
Judges, Power and an Unholy Control
What unfolded in Horana has raised serious allegations against the Sri Lanka Boxing Association. There is growing belief that victories were engineered for favoured boxers by appointing judges loyal to Anuruddha Bandara the President of BASL and his close associate Dasanayake. The controversial decision against Umayanga Mihiran made this reality impossible to ignore.
Following intense protests by sports clubs, the Boxing Referees’ and Judges’ Association itself accepted that the decision was wrong. The officials responsible were quietly removed from officiating the final bout. This retreat was not driven by conscience, but by fear. The involvement of a Police athlete appears to have caused hesitation, particularly over potential repercussions of acting against the Police establishment.
Violating World Boxing and Silencing Integrity
Despite Sri Lanka’s membership in World Boxing, the Association continues to violate its rules and spirit. Most disturbing is the deliberate exclusion of Sri Lanka’s most experienced World Boxing technical official, a woman who has officiated at two Olympic Games and is internationally recognised. Her exclusion is widely seen as punishment for refusing to act according to personal agendas.
World Boxing was created after the IOC banned international boxing in 2016 due to match-fixing and corruption. The very sins it was meant to eradicate are now re-emerging at home.
Allegations, Fraud and a Call for Accountability
Shock deepens with allegations involving Police officer Inspector Kaan Weerasinghe, a member of the Boxing Selection Committee. Claims of age fraud using forged documents during his youth boxing career have resurfaced, raising questions about integrity, accountability and continued protection. Similar concerns surround national coach Amila Aravinda Thisera, previously disciplined for submitting forged documents, yet allowed to continue unchecked.
The consequences are devastating. Umayanga Mihiran, fully eligible for the Mission Olympic program, has allegedly been removed under pressure. Neither the athlete nor the Police Sports Club may even be aware.
A Plea to the Minister of Sports
This is a moment of national shame. Manipulation, silence and protection of wrongdoing are destroying the futures of innocent athletes. The Minister of Sports must intervene decisively. Investigations by law enforcement, anti-corruption bodies and independent authorities are no longer optional. Sri Lankan boxing stands at a breaking point, and without urgent action, trust in the sport may be lost forever.
