Thursday, 27 June 2002  
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Layton Cup boxing meet and its gloriuos history

The Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka is conducting the annual "Layton Cup" boxing tournament commenced on Tuesday at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium will continue till 28 June, commencing at 5.30 p.m. on each day. The meet will be conducted on 2 rings simultaneously at the same venue in order to avoid it running into late nights causing difficulties to competitors as well as to officials. Computer judging will be utilized on both rings and 2 jurys will function to enhance fair decisions.

This meet will also be considered as the selection trial for the Asian Games which will be held in Pusang, Korea, from 29th September to 14th October. In order to maintain the high standard of the meet, the ABA has decided to limit the participation to winners and runners-up of ABA Novices & Intermediate meets stubbs shield meet, former participants at major ABA meets and to those who have represented the country.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, British Armed Forces were stationed in this country. In order to keep the Soldies, Sarlors and Airmen physically healthy and also to keep their spirits high, the British senior officers introduced many sports such as Athletics, Boxing, Cricket, Hockey, Soccer and Rugger to them. Top schools in major towns eagerly embraced these sports and British nationals even volunteered to function as honorary coaches too. The man-to-man game, Boxing, became immensely popular and drew huge crowds.

At that time boxing was controlled by a body named as the United Services Boxing Association of Ceylon (USBAC). This comprised of officers from the 3 armed services only. The USBAC conducted the Inter-Services meets and the Stubbs Shield Championships for schools.

In order to accommodate the Police and other Government Departments Central YMCA and other clubs at which boxing training prevailed, the USBAC was dissolved in 1926 and the ABA of Ceylon was formed. They conducted the National Championships since 1926 and the Clifford Cup Team Championships since 1927.

With the intension of improving the quality of boxing, the ABA introduced another meet in 1942, which helped to gauge the individual performance of boxers. In honour of Admiral Sir Jeoffery Layton, Commander of Eastern Allied Naval Fleet, who had been an ardent supporter of boxing, the new meet was named as the "Layton Cup Meet". The sterling silver Layton Cup was presented to the Best Boxer of this meet. At the inaugural year in 1942 at which the Admiral had been the chief guest for the finals he had beamingly presented this prestigious cup to gunner L. Harrision of Ceylon Army, who had been adjuged as the Best Boxer.

In 1943 Able Seaman K. Edwin and in 1944 Petty Officer Albert Perera of Ceylon Volunteer Navy, had been awarded this cup for their excellent performances. In 1945 Leading Air craftsman D. Banks of Royal Ceylon Air Force had been awarded this cup. In year 2000, M.D.K. Wanniarachchi and in 2001 N.B. Walisundera, both of Slimline Sports Club, Pannala have won this cup. There are many who have been awarded this cup twice, but the unique achievement of winning it 3 times belongs to 3 times SAF Games Gold-medalist R.K. Sumiht Prasanna of Sri Lanka Army in 1991, 1992 and 1994.

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