ABA, back in the ring!

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Category: boxing

Published on Wednesday, 06 July 2011 01:26

Written by Charit Tissera

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The Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) of Sri Lanka has reportedly received the go-ahead from the Ministry of Sports to proceed with the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the year 2011, informs Sri Lanka’s boxing administrative body.

As per this positive sign, the ABA would now be able to continue with their planned calendar, for the latter half of 2011.

Following are the newly appointed officials of the ABA, at its recently concluded AGM, held at the Auditorium of the Sports Development Department on July 4:

 

 

Aubrey Peiris: Nominated as President

A former Royalist who boxed for the school winning the Stubbs Shield in 1984/1985. He was also the captain of the Royal College Boxing Team in 1985. A School Coloursman from 1983 to 1985 he continued to win in boxing throughout including the LV Jayaweera Boxing Meet, TB Jayah Boxing Meet, Central YMCA Boxing Championship etc. He also won school Colours in 1984 for Soccer. He was an outstanding sportsman playing Rugby Football for Peterson’s Sports Club in the position of Flanker in 1991/92. Aubrey has been an International Referee and Judge since 2006 and had the privilege of Officiating at the SAF Games 2010 in Bangladesh as R/J. Aubrey is the Manager – Operations of Commercial Bank and acted as the Secretary of the Commercial Bank Sports Club during the past.

Mahesh Dahanayake: Nominated for the position of Hony. Secretary

A past pupil of Royal College, Mahesh was the Boxing Champion during the 1987-1989 period winning many trophies and titles such as the Stubbs Shield in 1987. He was also the Royal College Boxing Captain in 1992 and received colours for five consecutive years from 1987 onwards. Mahesh was an outstanding Sportsman representing the school in Soccer and Athletics, and is currently employed as the Manager – Commercial of MAS Intimates, where he was employed since 1995. The Assistant Secretary nominee is M.T.M. Safrak, a Stubbs Shield winner in 1996 who was also the National 2nd Runner Up in 1998 in Boxing.

Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya and Mr. Herbert Embuldeniya: Vice Presidents

A AIBA Judge, Jury Member and Technical Delegate. Veterans in Boxing and great Sportsmen of yesterday, both Vice Presidents have held many positions in ABA throughout the years and their contribution towards boxing in Sri Lanka has been immeasurable.

Husni Salieh: Hony Treasurer

A CIMA qualified Management Accountant of MAS Intimates. A sportsman in his own right, Husni represented his alma mater in Basketball during his collegiate years.

Dhilhara Seimon: Assistant Treasurer

A netball player during her school years, Dhilhara is a graduate of the Sri Jayawardenapura University holding a BSc in Finance and is CIMA (UK) qualified CPA.

 

 

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The ABA has a tough job ahead of them to ensure a smooth flow of the rest of the scheduled calendar events such as Schools Meet in July, including the 5 ABA conducted National Meets and 5 School Meets for 2011/2012 due to the delay in initiating and setting up a new committee.

Interestingly, the much awaited green light for the AGM was received two months after Sri Lanka’s celebrated national boxer Manju Wanniarachchi withdrew his appeal against his failed drug test at the last Commonwealth Games!

In March 2011, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage ordered a suspension of the ABA AGM which was scheduled to be held in the same month. However, the minister failed to reason-out the logic behind such a decision.

There has been a constant show of enthusiasm for boxing in Sri Lanka, more so from rural areas, and therefore the ABA realizes the paramount importance of receiving the required funding for local and international meets. The Chairman of the ABA Sponsorship Committee, former ABA President Dian Gomes, has in this short period of time secured a pledge of Rs. 4 million from A&E Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., generous sponsors of the event for the fourth consecutive year. With the constant support that he has received from other organizations and the sports loving public throughout the years, Mr. Gomes is confident in raising the balance Rs. 8 million needed to successfully complete the 2011-12 ABA calendar programmes.

As the ABA gears up to go full-steam ahead, carrying out its duties as the governing body of this much loved sport in Sri Lanka, the committee urges and welcomes any form of support to uplift and continue improving standards in Sri Lankan Boxing, ever committed to the dream of an Olympic Gold.

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