Angelo and Nirushika Named Best Boxers at BASL Novice Tournament: Cash Prizes Awarded for the First Time in Sri Lanka Boxing History
SPP Angelo of St. Sylvester’s BC and RNDP Jayathissa of Up Hill BC were honoured with the Best
Boxer awards at the Novices Boxing Tournament held at the Royal MAS Arena in Colombo. The
tournament, organised by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), featured a record 186 boxers
from 27 clubs.
Rohan de Silva, Group Director of McLarens Group of Companies and President of Sri Lanka
Badminton, served as the chief guest on the final day, presenting the special awards alongside BASL
President Dian Gomes. The five-day event showcased a high standard of boxing with intense, fast-
paced matches, setting a competitive tone for the new season.
Angelo and Nirushika Jayathissa, both 19, were recognised for their exceptional technique and
ringcraft, earning the Best Boxer titles in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. Angelo, a
two-time Stubbs Shield silver medallist, demonstrated remarkable skill, winning all his bouts with
ease. His performance in the featherweight (under 57kg) final was particularly notable, where he
knocked out Chandrapala from Air Force with a perfectly timed right hook in the final round.
Nirushika, representing Uphill BC and a gold medallist at the Youth Championships 2023, impressed
the judges despite having only one year of boxing experience. She outpointed seasoned soldier
Virajini in the featherweight (under 57kg) category, winning by unanimous decision.
For the first time in Sri Lankan boxing history, cash awards were given to men and women Best
Boxers of the event.
The tournament also recognised other notable performances. Army’s Adhikari was awarded the Best
Loser’s award after a close 3:2 decision loss in the welterweight (under 67kg) bout against MM Paris
of St. Sylvester’s BC. In the women’s category, 19-year-old Sanduni Imesha of Air Force, a product of
Naradeniya CC, Kamburupitiya, and a gold medallist at the Youth Girls meet, was named Best Loser
for her valiant effort in the light flyweight (under 50kg) final against Devindi from Hanwella
Rajasinghe BC.
In terms of team achievements, Army Archers (men) and Army (women) topped the medals tally
with four golds each. St. Sylvester’s BC secured three gold medals, while Army Red, Army Blue, and
other Army teams collectively won ten golds in the 13-weight men’s competition. The Air Force
women’s team also performed strongly, finishing second overall with three gold medals.
Final results
MEN
Minimum Weight (46-48kg): PKU Silva (SL Army Archers) beat AAN de Silva (West
Coast BC) WP 5:0
Fly Weight (48-51kg): DDM Sampath (SL Army Archers) beat SPWGC Rathnasiri (SL
Navy Bismark) WP 5:0
Bantam Weight (51-54kg): SPBR Premalal (SL Army Blue) beat KWSMA Dasunpriya (SL
Army Archers) WP 3:2
Feather Weight (54-57kg): SPP Angelo (St Sylvester’s BC) beat BMM Chandrapala (SL
Air Force) KO R3
Light Weight (57-60kg): RM Pushpakumara (SL Army Archers) beat HMGCN Dissanayake
(SL Army Red) WP 3:2
Light Welter Weight (60-63.5kg): TDD Upawansha (SL Army) beat AGVH Jayasinghe (St
Sylvester’s BC) WP 4:1
Welter Weight (63.5-67kg): MM Paris (St Sylvester’s BC) beat AADD Adhikari (SL Army
Red) WP 3:2
Light Middle Weight (67-71kg): AACS Kumara (SL Army Archers) beat V Ratheesh
(Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) RSC R1
Middle Weight (71-75kg): YM Usaith (St Sylvester’s BC) beat LGM Bandara (SL Navy
Bismark) RSC R1
Light Heavy Weight (75-80kg): HMMM Herath (SL Army) beat PA Samarasinghe (SL
Navy Bismark) RSC R1
Cruiser Weight (80-86kg): MDK Silva (Back2Fit) beat JMIPP Kumara (SL Army Red) WP
4:1
Heavy Weight (86-92kg): WPSK Ranasinghe (SL Army Red) beat R Deshmikanth (Omega
Line) RSC R1
Super Heavy Weight (92+kg): HMCT Weerakoon (SL Army Blue) beat KG Pitampe
(Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) RSC-I R1
WOMEN
Minimum Weight (45-48Wkg): AGHD Premasiri (SL Air Force) beat EMSC Chandrasiri
(Jayawardenapura University) RSC R1
Light Fly Weight (48-50kg): MDK Devindi (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) beat NWAS Imesha
(SL Air Force) WP 5:0
Fly Weight (50-52kg): DMKT Dissanayaka (SL Air Force) beat WAW Nawodya (Sivali BC)
RSC R1
Bantam Weight (52-54kg): EMKH Ekanayaka (SL Air Force) beat KAHS Dilshani (SL
Army) RSC R1
Feather Weight (54-57kg): RDNP Jayathissa (Uphill) beat PHI Virajani (SLA) WP 5:0
Light Weight (57-60kg): S Rajkumar (BA) beat SIR Pathiraja (Hemamali BC) WP 5:0
Light Welter Weight (60-63kg): JDN Rathnasiri (Back2Fit) beat LDS Silva (SL Army)
ABD R1
Welter Weight (63-66kg): PADR Sanjana (SL Navy) beat LDD Vimarshana (SL Army Red)
WP 5:0
Light Middle Weight (66-70kg): JMR Rasanjali (SL Army) beat UGNH Jayathissa
(University Peradeniya) RSC R1
Middle Weight (70-75kg): NMMS Narasinghe (SL Army) beat EMI Bandara (Veyangoda
BC) RSC R2
Heavy Weight (81+kg): HADP Wathsala (SL Army) beat MADDS Kulasinghe (SL Army
Blue) RSC R1
*****
ABD Abandon KO Knockout Rn Round number RSC Referee Stops Contest
RSC-I Referee Stops Contest – Injury WP Win on points