Udeni Kiridena
Udeni T. B. Kiridena, born into a family with a rich legacy in boxing, began his journey in the sport at the age of 10. His dedication and skill quickly became evident, and in 1977, he was crowned the 'Paperweight Champion at the Central Province Boxing Championships.
During his time at Trinity College, Kandy, where he excelled in various sports, Kiridena's passion for boxing continued to shine. In 1981, he received the 'Basil Fonseka Challenge Cup' as the Junior "Best Loser' at the prestigious Stubbs Shield Championships. The following year, in 1982, he reached new heights, winning the T.B. Jayah Cup, the Junior National Championships, the Colombo Schools vs. Outstation Schools Meet, and the Stubbs Shield Championship. He was named the 'Best Boxer' and awarded the coveted. 'Col. T. Y. Wright Challenge Trophy". His exceptional performance in the ring earned him the Trinity College Boxing Lion' in the same year. Kiridena went on to serve as the Captain of the Trinity College Boxing Team in 1983, leading them to victory in the Stubbs Shield Championship, ending a 31-year drought.
In addition to his boxing prowess, Kiridena worked in the insurance industry in Colombo, where he also contributed as a coach to the 'Air Lanka' boxing team. Under his guidance, the team produced champions at the ABA Novices & Intermediate Championships. Kiridena's commitment to the sport extended beyond his own career. In 1993, he completed the National Boxing Referees & Judges examination, and in 2002, he excelled at the Asian Boxing Confederation Referees/Judges exam, topping his batch. His expertise was further solidified when he completed the International Boxing Association (AIBA) examinations in 2006. He has officiated at numerous prestigious tournaments worldwide.
Further enhancing his qualifications, Kiridena eamed certification from the International Olympic Committee in 2019 for successfully completing the course for Sports Administrators. His leadership was also demonstrated when he was elected President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka for the 2009-2010 period, having served as Vice President since 2006. He has been deeply involved in the administration of Sri Lankan boxing, including serving as the 'Chef de Mission' and 'Deputy' for multiple international events, such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Additionally, he chaired the National Boxing Selection Committee in 2008 and has been a committee member since 2006, barring the year he served as President of ABA/SL
A significant milestone in Kiridena's career came when he was selected by the International Boxing Association as an AIBA 3-Star Referee/Judge to officiate at the 2016. Rio Olympic Games. This achievement made him the first alumnus of Trinity College and only the third Sri Lankan (after 20 years) to officiate at the prestigious event.
Beyond the Olympics, Kiridena's international experience is extensive. He has officiated at three World Championships (Samsun, Albena, and St. Petersburg), the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, AIBA Pro Boxing matches (as the only Sri Lankan referee to officiate in the Pro Boxing category), World Series Boxing matches in over eight countries, and several other significant competitions, including the Commonwealth Championships in Liverpool, Asian Games in Busan and Guangzhou, and the South Asian Games in Dhaka and Colombo. Additionally, he has officiated at Olympic qualifiers across multiple continents, including Asia, Oceania, the Americas, and Europe.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport, Kiridena was honored with the "Most Outstanding Referee/Umpire/Judge/Technical Official of the Year 2016' award at the Presidential Sports Awards Ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Sports of Sri Lanka.
Alongside his achievements in boxing, Kiridena is a qualified Chartered Insurance professional, having earned credentials from the Chartered Insurance Institute (UK), the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance, and the Insurance Institute of India. Since 2013, he has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute in Colombo.