- IOC banned IBA Board Member’s personal wrath prevails
- Influences buddies to mislead Sports Minister
The wrath of Dian Gomes the current President of the Sri Lanka Boxing Association (SLBA) and Board Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA) prevailed, as the Minister of Sports Harin Fernando rejected the appeals made by both female boxer Nadeeka Ranasinghe and Niraj Wijewardena to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Trials which is to be held on the 25th of May to 2nd June 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The appeal letters sent by these two talented boxers, who have already proven their worth to compete at the trials, were incidentally tipped to secure quota places on offer. However, quite sadly for Sri Lankan sports, the omission of their names comes with a history of persecution.
Both Nadeeka and Niraj have endured ongoing persecution at the hands of Dian Gomes, the President of the Sri Lanka Boxing Association, who has ruled over boxing affairs in the nation with an iron fist for the past two decades. His infamous motto, well-known in boxing circles, ominously states, “you cross my path, and you will have hell to pay.” Throughout history, those who have dared to challenge Gomes, a former appointee of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the Public Service Commission of Sri Lanka, have seen their careers mercilessly ended.
The story about these two latest victims comes as no surprise.
Dian’s wrath against Niraj Wijewardena
Quite unfortunately for boxer Niraj Wijewardena, he happens to be the first witness in a sexual harassment case that has been filed against the IBA Board Director and SLBA President Dian Gomes by a victim which is to be taken up shortly at the Magistrates Court, Colombo, on the 16th of May 2023.
Despite being continuously harassed by the SLBA under the watch of Gomes, Wijewardena on two previous occasions and with the blessings of the NOCSL and the Ministry of Sports went on to represent Sri Lanka at the Taipei City Cup in Taiwan, where he secured a bronze medal and also competed at the Asian Games held in China last year.
However, the SLBA as a last-minute gesture then, made every effort to discredit the boxer by sending official letters to the Taipei Boxing Federation and to the Ministry of Sports.
Gomes did not stop there, he has on several instances gone on to blatantly use several social media platforms to personally discredit Wijewardena and was also suspected of using the state media to further tarnish the image of Wijewardena.
A prominent state media sport journalist who once reaped sponsorship benefits to attend a boxing related IBA training programme in New Delhi, did in fact publish a rather lop -sided article with a published image of Wijewardena and went on to name and shame the national boxer based on several anonymous claims.
Dian Gomes was quicker than even his shadow in posting that published article on his own Facebook wall along with a quote, personally criticizing Wijewardena.
The duo’s actions were perceived as a well-orchestrated plan to discredit Wijewardena, which many found to be unbecoming and inappropriate, especially for a President of a National Sports Federation.
On another occasion, boxer Niraj Wijewardena had no option but to inform the National Authority for the protection of victims of crime in Sri Lanka by email from the Asian Games that he had been emotionally victimized by Dian Gomes, just prior to his important bout.
For the record, Niraj Wijewardena entered the round of 16 at the concluded Asian Games and currently stands a solid chance to secure one of the remaining five slots available for his weight category at the final Trials in Bangkok. This is as most of the top boxers in his weight category have already qualified for their respective countries for the Paris 2024 Olympics at the previously qualifying trials.
Dian’s wrath against Nadeeka Ranasinghe
It is a common fact that the fall out between Dian Gomes and Sri Lanka’s 3-star International Boxing Coach and international Cutman Amila Aravinda Thissera has had a huge impact on all boxers who are personally coached by him.
It was just a couple of years back that both Dian Gomes and Coach Thissera were close associates and who were attached to MAS Holdings. However, with both Gomes and Thissera breaking away from MAS and due to a subsequent falling out between the two, all the boxers who were coached by Thissera were threatened to part ways with him or else they would not be selected in future to represent the country.
For the record, Umayanga Mihiran was once reprimanded by Gomes after he and his coach Thissera had held a press conference and exposed several flaws in the SLBA run by its President Dian Gomes.
Subsequently Mihiran’s detachment from his coach Thissera ensured that his place alongside Rukmal Prasanna was made secure to compete at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games Trials in Bangkok.
As for Nadeeka Ranasinghe, the boxing lass currently continues to be made the victim repeatedly, as she, till to date did abandon her coach Thissera.
Ranasinghe was deprived of going for the Paris 2024 Olympic Boxing Trials earlier in March, when the SLBA officials cited that they were fearful that boxers will overstay in Italy. This female boxer was one of the few boxers who returned to the island after the Commonwealth Games, when several of the Army boxers jumped ship over in the UK.
Secondly, she was not selected to participate at the Asian Games when the SLBA decided to send just one male boxer.
Further, she has been made a victim yet again by not being selected to deservedly attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Trials in Bangkok, Thailand.
Nadeeka Ranasinghe is also a solid candidate to secure one of the four quota slots available at the Bangkok Trials. All top boxers in her weight category have already qualified at the previously held Paris 2024 Olympic Games Boxing Trials.
How Dian’s buddies misled Sports Minister Harin Fernando
It is common knowledge that most of the officials attached to the National Sport Selection Committee are personal buddies of the SLBA President Dian Gomes.
For example, General Shavendra Silva who heads this council as its chairman, does in fact share close ties with his former Sri Lanka Army comrade Gen (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya, who is the current Chairman of the SLBA Selection Committee that works in tandem with its President Dian Gomes.
Dr. Maiya Gunasekara, along with the rest who conducted the inquiry, were noticeably ignorant of the fine details published in the ‘Boxing Road to Paris 2024 Handbook’, latest updates and also historic incidents that occurred behind the scenes within the boxing circles.
He is believed to have been firm and vociferous in rejecting the appeals made by the two boxers due to his close affiliations with his Royal College schoolmate Dian Gomes and also on a personal level with Gen. (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya.
Eventually, it was Dr. Maiya Gunasekara who went on to inform Shemal Fernando, the Director General of the Ministry of Sports of the NSSC’s decision that the appeal of the two boxers was rejected.
Manipulation and the role of illegal post holders
Whilst Gen. (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya’s dual appointments as the current Chairman SLBA Boxing Selection Committee and as a Member of the National Sports Council is a direct violation of the country’s Sports Law Act No.25 of 1973, it also raises suspicions on the selection of the two boxers made by him and his committee to take part at the Boxing Trials in Bangkok.
One of the boxers Rukmal Prasanna is from the Army SC and that itself serves as a huge conflict of interest.
Further. Gen. (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya also has a National Boxing Selector in Udeni Kiridena, who along with 36 other officials were suspended by the International Olympic Committee for allegations of fraud and corruption committed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Kiridena, along with Gen. (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya remains as a second person whose position in the current Sri Lanka National Boxing Selection Committee raises several questions.
The details mentioned above are all blatantly done by men who supposedly hold posts of esteem for many to see, except the Minister of Sports who has been fed false truths by his inner circle of appointees.
Adding to the controversy is Gen. Jayasuriya’s silence on the disappearance of several Army Sports Club boxers who overstayed in the United Kingdom following the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. His lack of response or explanation for these disappearances, which occurred under his watch, raises serious questions about his suitability for overseeing sports ethics and athlete welfare. After all these soldiers were selected by the SLBA National Boxing Selection Committee headed by him to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham in 2022.
Call for IOC intervention
This narrative of favoritism, manipulations, violations and corruption necessitates a thorough investigation and immediate action from higher authorities, including potentially the International Olympic Committee.
Transparency in the selection process, adherence to legal standards, and the removal of corrupt officials are imperative steps to restore faith in Sri Lanka boxing.
The pursuit of Olympic dreams is a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of these two athletes, who have tirelessly worked to bring honor and fame to Sri Lanka. Their aspirations for justice must be met, especially considering the countless hours and years they have invested in their sport.
There remains hope that the IOC will intervene, ensuring a level playing field by eliminating unfairness, manipulation, and corruption perpetrated by officials.
It is imperative that the IOC take a stand against victimization, particularly by a banned IBA Board Member named Dian Gomes in order to safeguard the integrity of Olympic competition, its charter and honoring the spirit of fair play.
Links to previously published stories below:
SL Boxing ‘Bigwig’ Threatens Referees & Judges – (themorningtelegraph.com)
SL Boxing chief embroiled in sex case – investigation commences – (themorningtelegraph.com)
Sexual Harassment Case Against Dian Gomes Reopens, Taken Up In Court – (themorningtelegraph.com)
Shame and disgrace to the Sri Lankan sports .In your days in school he was boxers not a good boxer. They should be banned from boxing.