A 25-year-old international gold medal. A serving Police Inspector. Allegations of age-category misrepresentation. Critics say Sri Lanka now faces a moment of reckoning and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has the opportunity to restore credibility.
A Moment of National Accountability
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who also serves as Minister of Education, is being urged by critics and sports observers to initiate an immediate investigation into allegations surrounding a junior boxing gold medal won in 2001 by an individual who is now a serving Inspector attached to the Kalutara Police Station.
The controversy centers on claims that the medal won at an international tournament in Kathmandu, Nepal, may have been secured under disputed age-category circumstances.
The 2001 Kathmandu Tournament
According to historical records, Sri Lanka was represented at the 2001 Junior Boxing Championships in Nepal. One competitor, listed as K.S. Weerasinghe, won a gold medal in the 42kg Under-13–15 weight category.
However, critics point to Sri Lanka Police recruitment records indicating that Inspector Sampath Khan Weerasinghe, born on 13 December 1982 and bearing N.I.C number 82xxxxx88 V, would have been 19 years old at the time of the competition.
The allegation, which first surfaced in a Sinhala daily newspaper in March 2001, suggests that the competitor may have participated in a lower age category than his actual age.
These claims have never been conclusively adjudicated in open court.
Police Recruitment Questions
Observers have raised further questions regarding the background verification process conducted when Inspector Weerasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Police. Recruitment procedures typically involve detailed scrutiny of identity documentation.
If discrepancies existed between age-category competition records and official identity documents, critics ask how such inconsistencies were not identified at the time of recruitment.
While any potential criminal prosecution relating to the 2001 event may now be time-barred, disciplinary powers remain available to the Inspector General of Police should formal findings warrant action.
Overlapping Roles in Sport
Inspector Weerasinghe currently serves not only as a police officer but also as a selector within the Sri Lanka Boxing Association (SLBA).
Critics argue that a serving police officer simultaneously holding positions in sports governance, particularly in selection roles, raises questions regarding potential conflicts of interest. They further allege that his close association with SLBA leadership has drawn scrutiny within boxing circles.
No formal findings of misconduct have been made against him in this regard.
Broader Governance Concerns
Calls for investigation extend beyond the individual. Former coach Amila Aravinda Thisera has also been referenced in historical reporting connected to the 2001 tournament. It has been noted that disciplinary action was taken against him in 2014 by the SLBA for separate documentation issues, though the Ministry of Sports did not pursue further enforcement at the time.
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), when contacted, reportedly indicated that any inquiry into educational or age-related documentation falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education.
Global Precedent
International sport has repeatedly demonstrated that medals can be withdrawn years, sometimes decades, after irregularities come to light. Athletes such as Usain Bolt and Marion Jones saw Olympic results altered retroactively due to violations.
Critics now ask whether Sri Lanka should adopt a similar standard if evidence warrants it.
A Question of Credibility
Supporters of a formal review argue that this issue transcends a single medal. They contend that the integrity of Sri Lanka’s institutions, including its Police force and sports bodies is at stake.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya, who campaigned on themes of accountability and institutional reform, is being urged to appoint an independent panel to review the documentation, tournament records, and recruitment files connected to the 2001 case.
The Core Question
If an age discrepancy occurred, should the medal be voluntarily returned in the interest of national honour?
And if no wrongdoing is established, can a transparent investigation finally put the matter to rest?
For many observers, the issue is simple: clarity and accountability now will either restore confidence or deepen suspicion.
Sri Lanka’s credibility in sport depends on how this question is answered.
Over to you Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
