Sugathadasa, village referee who hobnobs among elite

 Sugathadasa (right) wins the golden glove 

By Susil Premalal

Kapila Sugathadasa, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected boxing officials, continues to elevate the country’s standing in international boxing. 

The IBA three-star referee and judge was adjudged Best Referee at the 98th BASL National Boxing Championship, held from 26 to 30 February in Horana, a performance that further underlined his growing stature in the sport. 

He also earned the Best Referee Award at the Taipei City Cup 2024 in Taiwan, bringing further international recognition to Sri Lanka.

Sugathadasa has served as a national referee since 2009, rising through the ranks through dedication and consistent excellence. He qualified as a one-star international referee at the 2015 Malaysia Cup, progressed to two-star status at the 2018 Balkan Cup in Bulgaria and achieved the elite three-star qualification at the 2019 Asian Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Championship in Kuwait.

His international officiating portfolio includes major Asian events such as the Asian Junior Championship in Mongolia (2019), the Asian Championship in Dubai (2021) and the recently concluded Asian Under-22 and Youth Championships held in Colombo in 2025, where he officiated on home soil.

A proud product of Seevali Central College, Ratnapura, Sugathadasa is widely regarded as one of the leading referees produced by Sri Lanka. Known for his unassuming nature, he commands deep respect among boxers and fellow officials for his fair, unbiased and composed officiating.

Always calm and firmly in control inside the ring, he has officiated in several high-profile domestic bouts across the island. Disciplined, dedicated and deeply committed to the sport, Sugathadasa has grown significantly in stature over the past year and is seen as a top-class Sri Lankan official with the potential to make a lasting impact on the world boxing stage according to analysts and experts.