Major (Rtd) Mahinda Hettiarachchi

Major (Rtd) Mahinda Hettiarachchi is a distinguished figure in Sri Lankan boxing, renowned for his achievements as both a champion boxer and a visionary leader in the sport. A product of Thurstan College, Colombo, Major Hettiarachchi dominated his weight category for five consecutive years at the prestigious Stubbs Shield Boxing Championship, where he was also adjudged the Best Boxer in the Junior Category under the guidance of veteran coach Donald Munasinghe. In 1982, he further demonstrated his prowess by winning Best Boxer titles at both the ABA Novices Meet and ABA Intermediate Boxing Meets, representing Central Y.M.C.A. under coach Gunadasa Fernando.

Transitioning from athlete to administrator, Major Hettiarachchi served as Secretary of the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka under the late DIG Dharmasiri Weerakoon and contributed as an Executive Committee Member of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. His dedication to nurturing boxing talent also took him abroad, representing Sri Lanka at the Young Participants Olympic Solidarity Course in Athens, Greece. He led as President of the Sri Lanka Boxing Coaches Association for two years and served as Manager-Cum-Coach for the Sri Lankan team at the 1997 Asian Boxing Championship in Tehran, Iran.

Major Hettiarachchi’s vision and pioneering efforts were instrumental in establishing the Ceylon Boxing Federation, alongside his contemporaries, laying a strong foundation for the future of boxing in Sri Lanka. His lifelong dedication to the sport continues to inspire generations of athletes, coaches, and administrators alike.