2023 | IBA president visited Sri Lanka
International Boxing Association Presidenbty Umar Kremliv and his wife visited Sri Lanka on 17th of July 2023 accompanied by former world heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr, IBA Brand Ambassador and Germany’s bantamweight champion Zeina Nassar and a number of other IBA officials providing international recognition to Sri Lanka Boxing.
2023 | BASL revised the constitution
The Boxing Association of Sri Lanka revised its constitution to align with the IBA (International Boxing Association)
2023 | BASL established new commissions
The new R&J Commission, Coaches Commission, and Diversity Commission were established in accordance with constitutional changes of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka, aligned with the International Boxing Association.
2023 | Sri Lankans at International Boxing Community
Miss Brabuddika Lokuyaddehige had been elected to the 12-member ASBC Women’s Commission by the ASBC for the year 2023 to 2026. Lt Col (Rtd) Hemantha Weerasinghe has been reelected and has been appointed to the ASBC R&J Commission for the progressive 3rd time. The Chairman of the Medical Commission of Sri Lanka Dr. Tharanga Arukggoda was elected as the member of ASBC Medical Commission and as the member of IBA Medical Commission. These Sri Lankan Official International appointments have brought glorious recognition to Sri Lanka in the International Boxing Communities.
2022 | Mr Dian Gomes to IBA Board of Directors
Mr Dian Gomes was appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Boxing Association (IBA). He was one of the 10 members selected from the 155 member countries that participated from all over the world at the WOW Hotel and Convention Centre in Istanbul, Turkey. This is the first time a Sri Lankan has been selected for this prestigious global boxing appointment.
2022 | Mr Dian Gomes to ASBC Board of Directors
Mr Dian Gomes was appointed to the Board of Directors at The Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) Extraordinary Electoral Congress held on March 12, 2022, in Amman, Jordan. This is a significant achievement for Sri Lanka as Mr Dian Gomes was elected to the 12-member Board of Directors out of 37 eligible countries in the Asian Continent. This marks the first time a Sri Lankan Boxing official has been appointed to two positions within the Asian Confederation and elected to the International Body(IBA).
2020 | Mr Dian Gomes to AIBA Executive Members and AIBA Marketing Committee
Mr Dian Gomes has been appointed as the AIBA Executive Member since September 2020. This has been the first time a Sri Lankan National was appointed to a higher executive position in the Asian Boxing Association. Mr Dian Gomes was also appointed as the Vice Chairperson of AIBA Marketing Committee which is considered as one of the key commission in AIBA.
2019 | Sri Lankans successfully complete AIBA courses
Mr Susantha Weerasena has been selected by the AIBA to follow the AIBA 3 start R&J course held from 18th to 27th April 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. Mrs Chintha Weerasinghe and Mr Kamal Sameera applied to AIBA through BASL for the AIBA 1 star R&J course and were selected by AIBA to follow the course held from 20th to 23rd June 2019 in Mauritius. Both R&Js have successfully passed the examination and qualified as AIBA 1 start R&Js.
AIBA 2 star coaching course was held from 9th to 17th May 2019 in Rohtak, India. The AIBA informed that the below coaches have successfully passed the AIBA 2 Start Coaching Course.
- Mr SI Kumara (Slimline)
- Mr SPCS Jayathilaka (Army)
- Mr Anura Yapa (MDS)
- Mr Rajith Kumara (Carry)
- Mr Upul Madusanka (Vidiyal)
- Mr NS Dassanayaka (Navy)
Spoiler title
Mr Dian Gomes received the Presidential award “Sri Lanka Sikhamani” at the National Honors Ceremony 2019 held on 19th August 2019. The award had been presented to Mr Dian Gomes for his outstanding contribution to sports, empowering women, improvement in rural areas and contribution to society. This is the first time a president of the Boxing Association in Sri Lanka has been awarded a National Honor.
Spoiler title
Mr Dian Gomes received the Presidential award “Sri Lanka Sikhamani” at the National Honors Ceremony 2019 held on 19th August 2019. The award had been presented to Mr Dian Gomes for his outstanding contribution to sports, empowering women, improvement in rural areas and contribution to society. This is the first time a president of the Boxing Association in Sri Lanka has been awarded a National Honor.
2019 | Lt Col (Rtd) Hemantha Weerasinghe was appointed to ASBC R&J Commission
Lt Col (Rtd) Hemantha Weerasinghe has been appointed as a member of the R&J Commission of ASBC’s consecutive second term for the years 2019- 2022.
2012 | Indian boxers invited for MAS Holdings Challenge Cup
India vs. Sri Lanka Boxing Duel for the maiden MAS Holdings Challenge Cup is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo
2010 | Cuban coach Padron arrives in Sri Lanka
Julio Concepcion Santana Padron arrives in the country, taking over as coach from 2010-2013.
2010 | Indian boxers arrive for duel
India vs. Sri Lanka International Boxing Duel Championship is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
2009 | Russian Invitational International Boxing Tournaments in Russia
Nilmini Jayasighe wins the first ever Women’s International gold medal at the Russian Invitational International Boxing Tournament in Russia.
2008 | Moscow boxers invited for duel
Moscow Bears vs. Sri Lanka Lions duel is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
2007 | Cuban coaches arrive in Sri Lanka
Trotman Dailey from Cuba arrives in the country for a brief stint at coaching local boxers. Coach Ramirez Elias Rafeal Rafael follows soon after, taking the reins for 2 years till 2009.
2007 | Tanzania arrives for duel
Tanzania vs. Sri Lanka boxing duel is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
2006 | Vietnam invited for duel
Vietnam vs. Sri Lanka Duel Boxing Championship is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
2006 | Hosting the South Asian Games
The X South Asian Games is held in Colombo in August 2006. Eight more Sri Lankans qualify as Continental Judges, trained under Donald Munasighe, the President of the Referees & Judges Association. Presently, there are 5 AIBA qualified and 12 FAAB (Contnental) qualified officials in Sri Lanka.
2005 | Asian Women's Championships – Hanoi, Vietnam
Anusha Kodituwakku wins first ever Asian gold medal for Sri Lanka at the Asian Women’s Championships – Hanoi, Vietnam.
2005 | Philippines invited for duel
Philippines vs. Sri Lanka boxing duel is held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
2004 | India Army flies to Sri Lanka for duels
The Sugathadasa Stadium and the Slimline boxing club hosts the Indian Army in duels, India Army vs. Sri Lanka Army, and Indian Army vs. Sri Lanka.
2002 | Sri Lankan judges elevated
5 judges and 2 referees from Sri Lanka qualify as Continental Judges.
2002 | First Cuban coach arrives in Sri Lanka
A Cuban coach is brought in to assist in improving local boxing standards. With the sponsorship of the Ministry of Sports, Cuban Frometa Matos takes over as coach from 2002-2006.
1999 | Boxing Coaching
Numerous Olympic solidarity boxing coaching programmes are carried out in Sri Lanka to further skill our coaches. In addition the Boxing Coaches Association under the auspices of the ABA holds many coaching programmes in various parts of the country for both coaches as well as upcoming boxers.
1999 | Mr. and Mrs. Embuldeniya return to Sri Lanka
Mr. Herbert Embuldeniya and Mrs. Neiva Embuldeniya return home from Canada after 18 years. Mr. Embuldeniya is a member of the Referees & Judges Commission of the AIBA, and jury member of 3 Olympic Games, 3 Commonwealth Games, 2 Asian Games and 3 South Asian Games. Mrs. Embuldeniya is an AIBA Ex-Co member, and Vice President of the AIBA Women’s Commission.
1999 | Sri Lanka adapts to Computer Judging
The country adapts to computer judging, with 3 Sri Lankans qualifying as Asian Judges.
1991 | Hosting the V South Asian Games
The V South Asian Games is held in Colombo in August.
1967 | Hosting the Asian Championship
The 4th Asian Championships is held in Colombo, with the participation of 12 countries.
1967 | The inclusion of Light Flyweight
At the AIBA Congress held in 1967, Ceylon proposes to include the Light Flyweight Category stating that most Asians are built small physically. With the ready endorsement of all Asian Countries the AIBA accepts the proposal, initiating it from January 1968.
1942 | ABA introduces the Layton Cup
Named after Sir Jeffery Layton, the Commander of the Allied Naval Fleet in the Indian Ocean, the Layton Cup is introduced in 1942, the Admiral himself present at the inaugural meet to award the Cup to able Seaman Jenkins of the Royal Navy who was adjudged as the Best Boxer. The Novices and Intermediate meets are introduced as qualifiers, whose winner were permitted to box at major meets.
1935 | Police boxing boosted by IGP
Sir H L Dowbiggin, the Inspector General of Police, fosters the annual boxing competition between Ceylon and Burma (present Myanmar) Police. American Heavy Weight Champion Gene Tunney witnesses this inter country duel in Colombo, and donates a Challenge Cup to be presented to the Most Scientific boxer. The Police Inter Division annual Contest for Dowbiggin Cup is also inaugurated.
1935 | The Ceylon Schools Boxing Association is formed
The newly formed Ceylon Schools Boxing Association manned by local school masters takes over school boxing responsibilities from USBAC. Today, over 50 schools compete in the Stubbs Shield Championships.
1928 | Matale District holds Inter Schools Tournament
The Matale District Inter Schools tournament is held for the first time, for the Dowbiggin and Robison Challenge cups. Yet another tournament is launched for bilingual schools of the Western Province, the Stanley Obeysekara Cup.
1927 | ABA introduces the Clifford Cup
The Clifford Cup, confined to teams of at least 4 boxers is introduced, and is won by the Ceylon Garrison Artillery.
1926 | Western Province holds Inter-Village Schools Boxing Competition
The first annual Inter – Village Schools Boxing Competition in the Western Province is held for the J P Obeysekara shield, which is won by a school in Aluthgama.
1926 | Establishment of the Amateur Boxing Association
Donald Obeysekara together with L Mac D Robison, Leigh Smith and Newrham, succeeds in persuading the USBAC to open boxing to civilians. The USBAC is dissolved to form the Amateur Boxing Association of Ceylon (ABA). A B Henricus is voted the first Secretary of the ABA, with the Royal Army winning its inaugural National Championships.
1925 | Boxing introduced to rural schools
Boxing is introduced to rural areas with financial assistance from the Government. While R Halangoda and S V De Alwis start coaching boxing at schools around Matale, a hill city, D Hennessy trains schools around Kegalle and M B Fonseka, schools around Gampaha.
1917 | Scouts take up boxing
The Scouts Movement also takes up boxing, initiating the annual Inter Troup Tournaments, with the participation of around 60 scouts. The Scouts vs Police Brigade tournament becomes a popular annual fixture.
1917 | Boxing becomes a playground movement
The YMCA Central Physical Director R Cammack from USA introduces boxing as a playground movement to Colombo playgrounds under the municipality act. Annual Inter playground contests are held with around 70 bouts.
1914 | Forming the Police Brigade
The Police Brigade is formed by the Police Department, consisting of youth from schools assisting local police in their duties. Sergeant E S Salladori trained the brigade boxers.
1914 | Initiating the first Interschool Championship
S C Trail obtains permission from the Colonial Secretary Sir R Edward Stubbs to award a challenge shield in his name annually at an interschool boxing tournament organized by the USBAC.
1888 | Boxing introduced outside the forces
The late great Cambridge Blue Mr. Donald Obeysekara is appointed as a member of the USBAC. He starts coaching at his Alma Mater Royal College, with Henricus coaching Wesley College, R V Routledage and Sgt Major Dobson coaching Trinity College, Johan Gaye coaching St. Anthony’s College, while C G Pigford and L Mac D Robinson coached at the former Police Training School.
20th Century | Sport introduced by the British
Boxing is introduced to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, during British Colonial Rule. It becomes popular amongst the three armed forces, forming the United Services Boxing Association of Ceylon (USBAC). Some of the famous boxers were A B Henricus, L V Jayaweera, A D V Perera, Albert Perera and K Edwin.
