Kodituwakku and Saparamadu were the bests in the Sri Lankan National Championships

The annual Sri Lankan National Boxing Championships for the elite women and men boxers was held in the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in their capital city in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s veteran woman star Anusha Dilrukshi Kodituwakku returned in the event in style and won the competition as their male No.1, Dushan Dinidu Saparamadu who impressed the judges.
Sri Lanka will be hosting an international boxing competition, the Lion’s Cup but in a later date this year. The Sri Lankan boxers have been preparing to the boxing tournament of the Commonwealth Games with full speed which will be held in Gold Coast, Australia in April where their female and male talents are focusing to get at least a medal.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Anusha Dilrukshi Kodituwakku is Sri Lanka’s most successful woman boxer in their history who returned to the ring to show her skills at the Commonwealth Games. The 39-year-old boxer dominated all of her contests in the National Championships and her performance was enough strong to do big things also in the Commonwealth Games.
Dulani Jayasinghe controlled her recent national events at the women’s flyweight (51kg) and she was able to do the same in the new competition which was the opening one for her in 2018. The 33-year-old boxer used her experience to keep the best fighting distance in the final against a young talent, H.S. Priyadarshani who has competed international events in 2017.
Muthuthanthri Sajeewani Cooray regained her throne back at the women’s bantamweight (54kg) following her revenge against Sewandhi Thalgaspitiya. Keshani Kasthuri Hansika is Sri Lanka’s most experienced woman boxer at the featherweight (57kg) who joined to the national team in 2013 therefore her easy success in the finals of the Nationals was a perfect start for her in 2018.
Following Krismi Ayoma Dulanjani Dharmatilake and Galbokka Hewage Thanuja Nilakshi Dharmasena won their weight classes as expected Sri Lanka’s veteran female boxer Pitigala Sumudu claimed also a title in the National Championships. She was one of the pioneers in the sport in the South Asian country as Anusha Dilrukshi Kodituwakku.
ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dapana Durage Shiromala Weerarathna will be turning to 35 later this year but she is still active and wants to get good results in the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Weerarathna controlled her final against G.D.M.H. Jayadewa at the women’s middleweight (75kg) and secured her next national title in Sri Lanka.
Thiwanka Sadaruwan Ranasinghe achieved the first gold medal in the men’s part of the Sri Lankan National Championships who is the No.1 at the light flyweight (49kg) in his homeland. The 25-year-old boxer used a smart tactic in the final against Wijesekera Arachchilage Charith Indika Perera and defended his throne in Sri Lanka.
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Seneviratne Bandara kept continue his strong performance in the Sri Lankan national events. The 26-year-old boxer launched powerful punches against Gamage Madushan and the judges picked him as the winner of the flyweight (52kg) in Colombo.
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Dushan Dinidu Saparamadu qualified for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships last year. He is Sri Lanka’s No.1 men’s elite boxer who dominated all of his contests at the light welterweight (64kg).
Commonwealth Games competitor Pathirage Don Dinesh Maduranga defeated Sri Lanka’s national team member Ruwangala Gedara Sisira Kumarasinghe in the final of the welterweight (69kg) which was a small sensation in the National Championships. The final verdict was 3:2 to Maduranga which was one of the closest result in the competition.
Navy boxer Gallage Ajith Nevil Fernando was enough strong to win his next national title at the light heavyweight (81kg) in Colombo just before his 35th birthday. Lahiru Tharanga Rathnadiwakara competed at the Bangkok 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and in other international events as well therefore his success at the super heavyweight (+91kg) was the continuation of his dominancy among the heaviest men.

List of the winners in the Sri Lankan National Championships
Women’s 48kg: Anusha Dilrukshi Kodituwakku
Women’s 51kg: Dulani Anuradha Jayasinghe
Women’s 54kg: Muthuthanthri Sajeewani Cooray
Women’s 57kg: Keshani Kasthuri Hansika
Women’s 60kg: Krismi Ayoma Dulanjani Dharmatilake
Women’s 64kg: Galbokka Hewage Thanuja Nilakshi Dharmasena
Women’s 69kg: Pitigala Sumudu
Women’s 75kg: Dapana Durage Shiromala Weerarathna
Men’s 49kg: P.M. Thiwanka Sadaruwan Ranasinghe
Men’s 52kg: Seneviratne Bandara
Men’s 56kg: R.D.H.V. Rupasinghe
Men’s 60kg: R.W.M.S.B. Rajakaruna
Men’s 64kg: Dushan Dinidu Saparamadu
Men’s 69kg: Pathirage Don Dinesh Maduranga
Men’s 75kg: M.S. Jeewantha
Men’s 81kg: Gallage Ajith Nevil Fernando
Men’s 91kg: K.G.A.P. Jayasena
Men’s +91kg: Lahiru Tharanga Rathnadiwakara