The Amateur Boxing Association as the chief endorser of Boxing in Sri Lanka had 2013 filled with events in 2013 for boxers raging from amateurs to the professionals.
Kicking off the boxing calendar the first meet was held from 24th of April to the 28th at the Sugathadhasa Indoor Stadium. Catering to the upcoming boxers the tournament crowned Suboda Herath from Army as Best female Boxer and Ruchini Dhilhani as Best female Loser and in the men’s category Kasun Batawala and Pradeep Rathnayake were recognized as the best boxer and the loser respectively. Gracing the event officially was G.A.S. Gunasinghe, representative for Commonwealth Games Sri Lanka in Kingston, Jamaica in 1966
With the winners from the novice meet the ABA Men and Women Intermediate boxing tournament took place the following month at the same venue. With much experienced boxers taking the ring the winner were named by Wazir Sourjah, the former ABA Secretary In 2006, Stubbs Sheild Junior Best Boxer in 1971, Stubbs Shield Winner From 1971 – 1974, Royal College Colors Holder 1971 -1976 as well as the Police Colors Holder in 1982. The final results of the intermediate tournament were Saduni Chathurika as the Best Boxer (Women), Dipika Amarasinghe as the Best Loser ( Women), Kanishka Samarakoon ( Army) as the Best Boxer and lastly Sanjaya Priyankara (Air Force) as Best Loser.
As the boxing calendar reached July the tournaments were closing up on the final boxing championship finale – ‘89th ABA MEN & WOMEN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS’. However down the line before reaching it was Layton Cup and the Clifford cup championships. The Layton cup a later addition to the boxing schedule was held for the 71st time while Clifford Cup was held for the 86th year. Former President of ABA (1998 to 2000), ABA Secretary (1972 – 1979) as well as National Champion from (1964 – 1969) KV Dharmadasa, was the chief guest of Layton Cup.
The Clifford cup as well as the Annual Boxing championship not only recognized the best boxers in Sri Lanka but also the team performances. SLIMLINE ‘A’ was awarded the Clifford Cup Women Team Championship while MAS SOUTHERN ‘A’ were the mens winner of the team championships. Awarding them were one of the most experienced in the boxing field Donald Munasinghe. He is the longest serving member of the executive committee of ABA of Sri Lanka in the boxing history. Also distinguished boxing Juror – from 1995 to 2008, President – Boxing Referees & Judges Association for 5 years from 2004 – 2008, Chairman of the Boxing Jury from the year 2007 – 2008; President – Schools Boxing Association from 1998 & 2000, Hon. Secretary – Boxing Referees & Judges Association for 20 years from 1981 to 2001 as well as Hon. Secretary ABA in 1995 and representative of Thurstan Collage, Colombo 3 serving the Boxing team in 1958, 1959 & 1960 captaining it in 1960.
At the national championships, Sri Lanka Army ‘A’ team by default walked off with National Team Championship. The honor of being the Best Boxer of the Year was taken to Slimline SC by MM Prabashwara. However the Most successful club of the year was Navy BC.
Following is a list of individual accomplishments in the above mentioned tournaments.
71ST ABA MEN & WOMEN LAYTON CUP TOURNAMENT
Best Boxer (Women) – Kosala Nilmini – MAS Southern BC
Best Loser (Women) – L Udayangani – MAS Southern BC
Best Boxer (Men) – Malith Prabashwara – Slimline
Best Loser (Men) – WACI Perera – Army
86TH ABA MEN & WOMEN CLIFFORD CUP BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Best Loser – Women – KOSALA NILMINI – MAS SOUTHERN -A
Best Boxer – Women – A KODITHUWAKKU – MAS SOUTHERN -A
Best Loser – Men – D WIJERTHANA – SLIMLINE -A
Best Boxer – Men – PD SURESH – SLIMLINE -A
89th ABA MEN & WOMEN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Best boxer – Women – KALU Kaushalya – Air Force
Best Loser – Women – HMKG Udayanagani – MAS Southern
Best Boxer Men – PVDDD Saparamadu – Unichella
Best Loser Men – RGS Kumarasinghe – Navy A
