Sri Lanka’s amateur boxing future hangs by a thread as the Sri Lanka Boxing Association (SLBA) leadership fails to deliver on promises, risking the nation’s Olympic participation and international recognition.
The Sri Lanka Boxing Association (SLBA), under President Anuruddha Bandara and Secretary Commander M.A.L. Perera, is facing mounting criticism after failing to fulfill its pledge to resign from the International Boxing Association (IBA) and join the World Boxing Association (WBA). This transition is crucial for Sri Lanka’s amateur athletes to compete in the Olympics, Youth Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Youth Commonwealth Games under the national flag.
One of the most pressing issues is the SLBA’s non-compliance with requirements set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Without WBA membership, Sri Lanka risks losing its recognition with the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), further jeopardizing the athletes’ eligibility. SLBA’s own constitution also mandates this shift, but no formal resignation has been sent to IBA, nor has an application been made to WBA.
Adding to the crisis is the silence of key bodies. The Ministry of Sports, headed by Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and the Director General of the Department of Sports Development, has been accused of neglect, despite repeated warnings about the SLBA’s non-compliance with the Sports Law Act No. 25 of 1973 and directives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The controversy is compounded by long-standing allegations of irregularities, malpractices, maladministration, and corruption within the SLBA. These issues have been repeatedly exposed in print and electronic media, but no effective intervention has taken place. Critics argue that the Minister of Sports and the Department of Sports Development have a duty to dissolve the current executive committee and appoint an interim committee to safeguard the interests of the sport and its athletes.
The current situation leaves Sri Lanka boxing at a crossroads. If immediate corrective action is not taken, the country risks being sidelined from international boxing events, stripping athletes of their right to compete at the highest levels. With Olympic dreams on the line, the failure of leadership within the SLBA has created a crisis that threatens not only the credibility of the association but also the sporting future of Sri Lankan boxing.
