Donald Munasinghe re-elected as the President of Boxing Referees and Judges

BOXING: Donald Munasinghe, who is considered as a legend in local boxing scene, was re-elected uncontested as the President of the Boxing Referees and Judges Association of Sri Lanka, for the 4th time in succession, at its Annual General Meeting held on Sunday, February 25 at the ABA head office at old race course grandstand, Colombo 7.

Even though he opted to step down, the entire house vociferously insisted that their 'guru' should continue to guide them correctly and to maintain unity.

Being a former Boxing captain of Thurstan College and later coach of Thurstan, Arethusa Wellawatte, Mahiyangana Maha Vidyalaya and Veyangoda Central College, he served on the Ex-Co of the Schools Boxing Association from 1966 to 2000, a record, and culminating being its President twice. He has also served on the Ex-Co of the ABA from 1968 and still continues to do so, another record, being the most senior.

He has been a referee-judge since 1972 and a juror since 1995, presently its chairman. All referees and judges of today have been trained by him. He has further trained some of them and got them elevated to International (AIBA) and Asian (FAAB) levels. At times, he has also served as the senior and junior national coach too. It is no wonder that he is considered as a legend

Another very senior juror and ex-national champion K. V. Dharmadasa, an Asian qualified official was re-elected as Vice President, uncontested. He had been the President and the Secretary of the ABA in the past.

Group Captain Nishantha Dharmadasa, a product of Thurstan College, trained as a boxer and later as an elite referee-judge by the 'guru Donald Munasinghe was re-elected uncontested for the 4th time in succession.