Unity call overshadowed by financial transparency concerns and wasteful spending Sri Lanka Boxing at a Crossroads

By Allaam Ousman 

Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara under fire	Dian Gomes calls for unity

The past year in Sri Lanka boxing has been one of contrasts — bursts of ambition and personal sacrifice overshadowed by wasteful spending, questionable decision-making, and a breakdown in the financial transparency that the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) had maintained for over two decades.

The annual general meeting (AGM) of the BASL, held recently, was a stormy affair that at times descended into chaos, with angry members openly baying for the head of president Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara. The most critical flashpoint was the refusal to pass the association’s accounts, which had not been audited as required. The membership, deeply frustrated over what they saw as repeated mismanagement, handed Bandara a two-month ultimatum to put the house in order — or face a constitutional reckoning.

The demands were clear:

• Enact constitutional reforms legally.
• Ensure full financial transparency with both private and government audits.
• Restore public confidence in the BASL’s governance.

It was only the calming influence of former BASL President and current IBA Director Dian Gomes — who governed the sport for 23 years before handing over the baton to Bandara — that prevented the meeting from spiralling into complete collapse. Gomes urged members to give Bandara a chance to correct his mistakes, warning that even he would be unable to defend the current president in future unless he abandoned “living in a fool’s paradise” and embraced urgent reform.

Bandara for his part spent personal funds — including over 8.6 million rupees — to host the Asian Under-22 Tournament in Colombo. He also introduced the outdoor boxing concept, bringing the sport into public spaces in a bid to attract fresh audiences. The initiative was widely praised for its innovation, but was criticised by several stakeholders as a gimmick aimed at cheap popularity rather than genuine athlete development. Critics argue that outdoor meets disadvantage boxers, expose them to unpredictable conditions, and divert funds from more meaningful programmes.

The AGM also heard sharp criticism of wasteful overseas tours. Members questioned the value of trips such as the Seychelles and Taiwan tours, which yielded little in competitive benefit but drained scarce resources. The most controversial was sending 18 athletes to the Under-22 Championship in Thailand, reportedly charging Rs. 545,000 per athlete without proper approval. These actions, some said, risk turning national boxers into “beggars” constantly dependent on ad-hoc funding rather than building a sustainable support system.

Questions have also been raised about the integrity and suitability of the selection committee, the rationale for sending large contingents to overseas tournaments, and the transparency of selection criteria. Several clubs have voiced dissatisfaction, citing cases where deserving athletes — including national champions — were left behind while reserve fighters were given international opportunities.

At the heart of the unrest is a loss of financial transparency — a standard that Sri Lanka boxing had proudly upheld for over 20 years. Several members stressed that without restoring full, public accountability for every rupee spent, the sport’s credibility at home and abroad will collapse. As one senior official bluntly put it, “We must understand that transparency is not optional — it is the foundation of our sport’s reputation.”

These controversies come as Sri Lanka navigates a global boxing rift — torn between pursuing the Olympic pathway through World Boxing and maintaining ties with the financially supportive but IOC-banned IBA (International Boxing Association). Unfortunately, Bandara is “caught between the devil and the deep blue sea” — balancing the need for funding against the desire for Olympic legitimacy.

The message from the AGM was clear: it is time for everyone to pull up their socks. Immediate steps must be taken to:  

• Restore full financial transparency and publish audited accounts without delay.
• Halt wasteful tours and prioritise competitions that provide genuine competitive value.
• End politically motivated selections and establish clear, merit-based criteria.
• Focus resources on athlete welfare and sustainable development, not one-off publicity events.

While Gomes’s call for unity resonated with many, it was also a pointed warning: without structural reform, unity will be cosmetic at best. The BASL’s credibility, both at home and abroad, hangs in the balance.

Sri Lanka boxing now faces a defining moment. Without decisive action, the future could bring deeper division, eroded trust, and lost opportunities for a generation of fighters. With its credibility on the line, the BASL must choose: return to disciplined, transparent governance — or watch the sport it claims to serve slip further into decline.