Former national boxer Ajantha Gamini missed by all

IP Ajantha Gamini Perera had a long and illustrious career in boxing. During his school era at St. John’s College, Nugegoda, he participated in most inter-school tournaments including the Stubbs Shield Championship, winning them convincingly. His initial coach was U.A.T. Sumanapala, a former Feather Weight National Champion of the Army.

Soon after leaving school he was drawn into the police boxing squad by SP Dharmasiri Weerakoon (Police Sports Officer) under whom he trained. Weerakoon boxed at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Gamini was taken in as a reserve Sub Inspector and was made permanent. He was at the Police Field Force Headquarters, Thimbirigasyaya during his training. Possessing a strong heavy body he kept on winning regularly at the major tournaments which included the Layton Cup, Clifford Cup and the National Championship. Earlier he boxed in the Light Middle Weight Under 71 Kilograms and the Middle Weight Under 75kg.

He represented the National Boxing team at the 1999 SAF Games in Katmandu and at the Adijaniya International Boxing Championship in India. He was coached by Capt. (Rtd) RK Indrasena the then National Coach. He also represented the Junior National Team at the 1985 Asian Junior Championship in Bangkok.

He also took over the training of the police boxing team including the Police women boxers.

Gamini qualified as a National Referee and Judge in April 2006. He further qualified as a 1 Star International Referee and Judge in February 2011.

In the Boxing field or outside he had no enemies. He was friendly with everyone and everybody loved him. Helping anyone who needed his assistance was second nature to him.

It is most unfortunate that he met with an untimely death, in a motor car accident in the early hours of October 1, 2018 when a driver crashed head on into his car at Pepiliyana. His family members were also travelling with him at the time and he was able to rush them to Kalubowila Hospital to get them attended to immediately however, he succumbed to his injuries just two hours later.

Three school boys have lost their beloved father, a faithful wife has lost her husband. Sri Lanka Police has lost an able Inspector and their competent Boxing Coach while the boxing world had lost an experienced Referee and Judge. Everyone has lost a dear friend. We pray that his loving wife and two sons recover soon.

He was 51 years old at the time of his death.

May he attain Nibbana.