Marlon Dale Ferreira.
Former Thomian boxing captain and Stubbs Shield winner Anuk de Silva earned the right to represent Sri Lanka internationally, only to receive a letter asking him to raise nearly Rs.800,000 himself while the Boxing Association and Ministry of Sports seemingly avoid responsibility.
National Selection Becomes a Financial Burden
Former S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia boxing captain and Stubbs Shield winner Anuk de Silva has qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Under-23 Men and Women Open Boxing Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 3 to 17, 2026.
De Silva earned his position by winning the national selection trials conducted by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka at the BASL Gymnasium in Diyagama on June 17 and 18.
However, instead of receiving full financial and institutional support after being selected for national duty, the young boxer was issued a letter asking him to seek sponsorship for the overseas tour himself.
The estimated cost of his participation is approximately Rs.795,650.
Sports Ministry Instructions Apparently Ignored
The situation is particularly disappointing because the Ministry of Sports had reportedly instructed the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka to fund the expenses of athletes selected for official overseas national assignments.
Despite those reported directions, the Association has placed the responsibility on De Silva and his family to find the money required for him to compete under the Sri Lankan flag.
The sponsorship letter issued by the Boxing Association confirms that De Silva qualified to represent Sri Lanka after winning the official selection tournament.
Yet the same letter asks individuals and organisations outside the Association to provide financial assistance to make his participation possible.
This creates a deeply troubling contradiction.
Sri Lanka is prepared to select him, place him in the national team and benefit from any medal or international recognition he earns, but the institutions responsible for administering the sport appear unwilling to finance his journey.
Nearly Rs 800,000 Needed Within Days
According to the cost estimate provided, accommodation for 16 days amounts to approximately Rs.554,400.
A return air ticket is expected to cost around Rs.200,000, while the visa fee is estimated at Rs.41,250.
The total estimated cost is therefore approximately Rs.795,650.
With De Silva scheduled to leave Sri Lanka on July 1, he has been forced to seek urgent private sponsorship within an extremely limited period.
Instead of concentrating fully on his conditioning, tactical preparation and mental readiness, the boxer must now approach businesses, private donors and members of the public for financial assistance.
That is an unacceptable burden to place on an athlete selected for national duty, particularly one preparing for his first major international Under-23 assignment.
Young Athlete Left Under Emotional Pressure
The financial uncertainty places De Silva in a severe dilemma.
He has earned his place through competition, but he cannot be certain that he will be able to take it unless private sponsors come forward.
At a time when a national athlete should receive complete physical, psychological and logistical support, he has instead been left to worry about air tickets, visa costs and accommodation fees.
The emotional pressure created by such uncertainty can directly affect an athlete’s confidence, focus and performance.
Those responsible for national sports administration should understand that mental preparation is as important as physical conditioning, particularly in combat sports.
A boxer representing Sri Lanka should not enter the ring carrying the additional anxiety of whether enough money can be raised to send him there.
Boxing Association’s Spending Priorities Questioned
The Boxing Association’s failure to fully finance De Silva’s participation is especially difficult to accept amid persistent concerns about millions of rupees reportedly being spent on boxing events without adequate public accounting or transparency.
If substantial funds can be allocated to tournaments, ceremonies, administration and other Association activities, it is reasonable to ask why financial support cannot be found for a boxer who has officially qualified to represent Sri Lanka.
The primary responsibility of a national sporting body should be to identify, develop and support athletes.
Funding official national participation should take priority over expensive events, administrative comforts or activities that do not directly improve athlete development.
The Association must therefore explain what financial support was requested from the Government, what funds are currently available and why a nationally selected boxer has been instructed to raise nearly Rs.800,000 independently.
Official Letter Confirms Qualification
In a letter seeking sponsorship, BASL Honorary Secretary Commodore M.A.L. Perera confirmed that Arumadura Anuk Nethika de Silva had won the selection tournament and qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Under-23 Championship.
The letter stated that financial support would play a vital role in enabling his participation and promoting the development of boxing in Sri Lanka.
However, that appeal also highlights the central problem.
A boxer officially selected by the national Association should not have to depend on public generosity to fulfil an official international assignment.
Private sponsorship should supplement national funding, not replace the fundamental responsibility of the governing body and the Ministry of Sports.
Rapid Rise Through Sri Lankan Boxing
De Silva began boxing at S. Thomas’ College in late 2022.
Within two years, he developed into one of the most decorated young competitors in Sri Lankan school and national-level boxing.
He has contested 23 bouts and holds a record of 14 victories and nine defeats.
His rapid progress has produced six national medals, a college captaincy and selection for an international Under-23 championship.
Former Thomian Captain and Stubbs Shield Winner
De Silva won gold at the 2023 Youth National Championships and silver at the 2023 T.B. Jayah All-Island Boxing Championship.
He also secured bronze at the 2023 Stubbs Shield National Championship.
In 2024, he won gold at the Stubbs Shield National Championship, silver at the BASL Novices National Championship and bronze at the BASL Intermediate National Championship.
He captained the S. Thomas’ College boxing team during the 2024 season and was named the school’s Most Outstanding Boxer of the Year.
He received College Colours in both 2023 and 2024, while his team earned the Best Disciplined Team Award in 2024.
National Place Earned Inside the Ring
De Silva’s selection was not a ceremonial appointment or political favour.
He earned his place by winning the national trials.
His record demonstrates consistent progress, discipline and competitive achievement within a remarkably short period.
His journey should have been presented as an example of how Sri Lanka’s boxing system can develop promising national talent.
Instead, it has become another example of how athletes are celebrated when they win but abandoned when financial and institutional support is required.
Sports Ministry Cannot Wash Its Hands
The Ministry of Sports must explain how its reported instructions requiring national associations to finance athletes selected for official international duty are being enforced.
Issuing directions without monitoring compliance serves little purpose.
If a national association ignores or circumvents those instructions, the Ministry must intervene, examine its accounts and ensure that the athlete is not punished for an administrative failure.
De Silva has been selected for a Sri Lankan national team under the authority of a recognised national sports association.
That makes his participation a direct concern of the Ministry of Sports.
National Representation Demands National Support
Representing Sri Lanka should never depend on an athlete’s ability to raise private funds at the last moment.
When an athlete earns national selection, the country assumes a responsibility to provide the practical assistance required for participation.
The athlete’s duty is to train, compete and perform with distinction.
It is the duty of administrators to arrange funding, travel, accommodation, visas, medical protection and logistical support.
When those roles are reversed, national selection becomes a financial punishment rather than an honour.
Accountability Needed Before More Money Is Spent
The Boxing Association should publish a transparent account of its recent expenditure, including the amounts spent on events, administration, officials, travel and athlete development.
If millions of rupees have been spent on boxing-related events while a nationally selected athlete remains without travel funding, serious questions must be answered about the Association’s priorities and governance.
The Ministry of Sports should also examine whether public funds provided to the Association have been properly accounted for and whether athlete participation has been treated as the foremost priority.
Anuk Should Be Preparing to Fight, Not Searching for Money
Anuk de Silva has already completed the most difficult part of the process.
He trained, competed and won the selection trial.
He has earned the right to wear Sri Lanka’s colours at the Asian Under-23 Championship.
He should now be preparing to face the continent’s best young boxers, not spending the final days before departure searching for nearly Rs.800,000.
The failure to support him reflects poorly not on the athlete, but on the institutions established to serve him.
The Boxing Association and Ministry of Sports must stop avoiding responsibility and ensure that a deserving former Thomian champion is not denied his national opportunity because the administrators managing Sri Lankan boxing failed to do their jobs.
Editor’s Note: Support Anuk’s National Boxing Journey
Individuals and organisations wishing to support Anuk may contribute towards the full cost or any individual expense.
Every contribution will assist him in travelling to Jakarta and representing Sri Lanka on the international stage.
Anuk requires approximately Rs.795,650 to cover the following expenses:
Accommodation for 16 days: Rs.554,400
Return air ticket: Rs.200,000
Visa fee: Rs.41,250
Total estimated cost: Rs.795,650
Bank Transfer Details
Account Name: Anuk de Silva
Bank: Bank of Ceylon
Branch: Nugegoda
Account Number: 0092883541
Contact Details
Telephone: 076 742 4700
Email: anukdesilva2005@gmail.com
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