“Liberty Publications the publisher of The Daily Morning Newspaper in Sri Lanka, published the above story and subsequently removed it from its online platform. The Morning Telegraph having obtained the said story is pleased to publish it in its entirety” – The Morning Telegraph (Editor)
After procrastinating for over four months, a team headed by the Officer in Charge of the Crimes Investigation Unit of the Women’s and Child Protection Bureau of Sri Lanka visited the Royal College MAS boxing arena (scene of the crime), after the victim Thampu Nelka Shiromala a Sri Lanka Chief Police Inspector and the country’s first reputed Olympic female boxing referee and judge, had lodged a sexual (mental) harassment complaint under the Penal Code 345 earlier in January 2023 against Dian Gomes, the current President of the Sri Lanka Amateur Boxing Association.
Dian Gomes – The accused is also the President of the SL Boxing Association
Incidentally, Dion Gomes who happens to be a Board Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA) is also the Consul General of Georgia in Sri Lanka.
The complaint, reference number CIB V 28/20 was filed initially at the Head Office of the Womens and Child Protection Bureau on the 11th of January 2023.
The relevant case regarding this matter has also been filed at the Colombo Magistrates Court under case reference number B 84590.
After lodging her complaint in January 2023, the victim was sent to meet the Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) who then directed her to consult the Psychiatric Head of the Kotelawala Forensic Clinic.
It is reliably understood that after consulting the victim, the Psychiatric Head of the Kotelawala Forensic Clinichad sent his medical assessment back to the Chief JMO.Thereafter the Colombo Magistrates Court has informed the Chief JMO to submit the said relevant medical report.
Nelka Shiromala – The complainant
In the interim the victim had also filed a case with the Victim’s Protection Bureau and also the Human Rights Commission, due to her being continuously harassed by the alleged perpetrator in several other ways.
After several months, it was only last Thursday that the Officer in Charge of the Crimes Unit of the Women’s and Child Protection Bureau who along with his team had visited the Royal College MAS Boxing Arena during the now concluded Novices Boxing Competition to conduct their scene of the crime investigation.
R.K.Indrasena the Technical Delegate who was at the venue during the recent Novices Boxing Meet, confirmed that he was met by the Investing Police Officers.
“They asked me questions pertaining to the set up and seating arrangements according to the laid down international standards. I informed them that during the boxing meets held in Colombo, the SLABA President sometimes positions a seat for himself near the ring which is against the norm. It has been the case because no one questions him, since he is the President of the SLABA. However during this particular incident, the Technical Delegate was the current Vice President of the SLABA (Rtd) Lt Col. Hemantha Weerasinghe” Indrasena said.When the Daily Morning Sports contacted the victim Chief Inspector Thampu Nelka Shiromala, she said “As a Police Officer, I am not permitted to speak to the media without permission and also despite being the victim. However please do consult the Police Media Spokesman, if you require any clarification.”
The Daily Morning Sports then made several attempts to contact SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the Police Media Spokesman, but he failed to respond.
