From allegedly masquerading as a schoolboy to win a gold medal by competing as a 19-year-old in Under-13 and Under-15 categories in Nepal in 2001, to now standing accused of bullying coaches and fixing selections as a national boxing selector, a serving police inspector’s past has erupted into the present, leaving one explosive question hanging: how long will Sri Lanka look away while its sport and its uniform are dragged through the dirt?
Who Is Inspector Kaan Weerasinghe?
The name Kaan Weerasinghe has become synonymous with controversy inside Sri Lankan boxing. A former Officer-in-Charge of the Kaduwela Police Station, Weerasinghe previously held politically appointed positions during a former administration and was removed following a change of government.
Yet despite lacking the requisite qualifications, he later found himself appointed to the Sri Lanka Boxing Association (SLBA) selection committee an appointment critics say was secured by currying favour with SLBA President Anuruddha Bandara.
Power, Perks and Playing to the Gallery
While serving on the selection committee, Weerasinghe is alleged to have acted not in the interest of athletes or the sport, but to please SLBA President Anuruddha Bandara and close associate Sanjeewa Nickson Dasanayaka. Insiders claim he facilitated foreign tours and international opportunities for favoured individuals, reinforcing a culture of patronage rather than merit.
More disturbingly, he is accused of threatening innocent coaches, allegedly using his police authority to intimidate dissenters, forcing some to seek redress repeatedly at police stations simply to protect themselves.
Blatant Breach of Sports Law
Weerasinghe’s conduct, critics say, goes far beyond ethical lapses. As a serving police officer, he is alleged to have violated sports regulations by:
- Sitting on the SLBA selection committee
- Receiving remuneration from the Sri Lanka Police
- Acting simultaneously as Team Manager of the Sri Lanka national team at a previous IBA World Boxing Championship
These overlapping roles constitute a clear conflict of interest and an apparent breach of sports governance rules. Despite this, the Ministry of Sports has remained conspicuously silent.
A 25-Year-Old Lie That Still Stinks
What has now reignited national outrage is a shocking revelation from nearly 25 years ago.
In 2001, Weerasinghe represented Sri Lanka at the Under-19 Junior Boxing Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal. Born in 1982, he was 19 years old at the time. However, it is alleged that he fraudulently competed in the Under-13 and Under-15 age categories, using a forged birth certificate and forged passport, and won a gold medal.
These acts were allegedly facilitated by his then-coach, Amila Aravinda Thisera.
Through this deception, critics say, Sri Lanka was disgraced on the international stage.
42Kg Underweight Category – Gold Medal
K.S. Weerasinghe
How Did the Police Miss This?
When Weerasinghe later joined the Sri Lanka Police, he reportedly submitted his genuine birth certificate. Had the recruitment division examined the age category under which he achieved his so-called international success, he would have been immediately disqualified.
This raises an alarming question:
How did a candidate allegedly using forged documents to win international medals hoodwink police recruitment and gain entry into the force?
While criminal prosecution may be time-barred, the Inspector General of Police retains full authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings, including dismissal from service.
Authorities Have the Power, Why the Silence?
Equally, the Minister of Sports has the authority to remove Weerasinghe from the boxing selection committee and ban him from all boxing-related activities.
Calls have also intensified for action against national coach Amila Aravinda Thisera, who allegedly facilitated the original fraud. Notably, in 2014, disciplinary action was taken against Thisera by the SLBA for submitting forged documents to enter athletes into competitions, resulting in a ban. Yet the Ministry of Sports failed to enforce it.
That failure, critics argue, allowed individuals accused of serious wrongdoing to survive, thrive, and now dominate Sri Lankan boxing.
Athletes Pay the Price
The damage inflicted recently on elite boxer Umayanga Mihiran at the Boxing Nationals held in Horana is described as severe. Allegations persist that associates of SLBA President Anuruddha Bandara and Dasanayaka have systematically ensured victories for preferred athletes, sidelining those who refuse to submit to control.
Adding to concerns, a favoured IBA consultant has reportedly been brought to Sri Lanka to train 30 new referees, raising fears that the cycle of influence is being institutionalized.
Global Precedent, Local Cowardice
International sport offers clear precedent. Icons like Usain Bolt and Marion Jones saw medals stripped years later when wrongdoing emerged, with rightful athletes elevated in their place.
Why, critics ask, should Sri Lanka be any different?
Bodies such as the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, International Boxing Association, and World Boxing are now being urged to look into this fraudulent act, even if 25 years have passed.
A National Embarrassment That Demands Action
What baffles and enrages many is not just the alleged fraud, but the sustained protection. A serving inspector, now attached to Kalutara Police Station, accused of age fraud, intimidation, and manipulation, continues to wield influence over national sport.
This is not just a boxing scandal.
It is a stain on Sri Lanka’s uniform, its institutions, and its moral spine.
And if accountability does not come now, when will it?
