S. A. Siripala
The Ceylon Boxing Federation proudly recognises and honours S. A. Siripala, whose illustrious boxing career stands as a testament to unwavering dedication, discipline, and sustained excellence in Sri Lankan boxing from the late 1970s through the 1990s. Emerging onto the competitive boxing scene in the late 1970s, Siripala quickly established himself as a formidable force at both junior and senior levels. His early promise was emphatically demonstrated when he became the Winner of the L. V. Jayaweera Cup in 1978, followed by an outstanding performance at the Junior Championships, where he secured consecutive championship titles in 1978, 1979, and 1980.
His success soon extended to elite national platforms. In 1980 and 1981, he claimed victories at the prestigious Francis Jayawardene Cup, while also winning the renowned Stubbs Shield in 1980. That same year, he played a pivotal role in team success by contributing to victory at the President's Team Duel Meet-1980, highlighting his value as both an exceptional individual boxer and a committed team competitor.
At the national level, Siripala's consistency and dominance were unmatched. He was crowned National Champion for six consecutive years from 1980 to 1985, firmly establishing himself among the finest boxers Sri Lanka has produced, Further affirming his technical mastery, he also won the ABA Novices Championship in 1980.
His achievements extended across major open and invitational tournaments. He emerged victorious at the Intermediate Boxing Meet in 1984, the Clifford Cup Meets in 1985 and 1986, and the Doubiggin Cup Boxing Meet in 1986. In 1985, he earned international recognition by winning the Gold Medal at the Second Invitational Boxing Championships, a proud moment for Sri Lankan boxing on the international stage.
Representing the Police Boxing Team with distinction, Siripala secured notable victories in 1978 and 1980. His excellence was formally recognised when he was named Best Police Boxer in 1986, a year in which he also added the Danton Obeysekara Cup to his impressive list of honours. Demonstrating remarkable longevity and resilience, Siripala crowned his competitive career by winning the Laylon Cup in 1993, marking over a decade and a half of sustained excellence at the highest levels of the sport Further enhancing his international credentials he toured Kathmandu, Nepal, for the Second Invitational Boxing Championship, where he once again brought pride to the nation by winning a Gold Medal S. A. Siripala's career remains a shining example of commitment, perseverance, and sporting excellence, inspiring generations within Sri Lanka's boxing fraternity and securing his place in the nation's rich boxing heritage.