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Inaugural Sri Lanka - Philippines dual boxing meet on May 6, 8
The much awaited inaugural Sri Lanka - Philippines Dual Boxing Meet will be held on May 6 and 8 at two venues. The first meet between the two countries will be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on May 6 with the second meet scheduled to be held at the Slimline Boxing Club premises in Pannala.

Orginally the dual meet was due to be held in March this year but it had to be postponed due to the tsunami disaster in the Asian region in December last year. The two teams are in form having participated in the recently concluded Kings Cup international boxing meet held in Thailand. The two teams will be fielding ten boxers, six in the men's and four in the women's category. And the Sri Lankan boxers are undergoing strenuous training under Cuban coach George Loius Frometa. Sri Lanka's hopes are pinned on Kings Cup silver medallist Manju Wanniarachchi. But they will be sans another experienced boxer Saman Kumara who is nursing an injury.

The meet will also be a preparation for the forthcoming South Asian Games for the local boxers. According to reports the Philippine team too field an experienced side including a gold medalist in the Kings Cup. All in all a keen tussle is expected and the boxing fans can expect some top class boxing in the two days. The Philippine team is due to arrive in the island on May 5 (Wednesday).

The Teams:
Philippine - Mens - 48kgs Light Flyweight - Albert Fabila. 51kgs Flyweight - Junel Cantancie. 54 kgs Bantamweight - Rolando Magbanua 57kgs Featherweight - Francis Catamura. 60kgs Lightweioght - Genebert Basadre. 64kgs Light Welterweight - Florencio Ferrer. Women's - 46kgs Josie Gabuco. 48kgs Analiza Cruz. 50kgs Alice Kate Aparri. 52kgs Annie Albania.

Sri Lanka - Mens - 48kgs Light Flyweight - K.A.C. Nayanajith Alexander. 51kgs Flyweight - Anurudha Ratnayake. 54kgs Bantamweight - Manju Wanniarachchi. 57kgs Featherweight - Kamal Sameera. 60kgs Lightweight - Upali Bandara. 64kgs Light Weletrweight - W.M.R. Wekadapola. Women's - 46kgs L. G. Chandrika. 48kgs Anusha Kodituwakku. 50kgs Nilimini Jayasinghe. 52kgs Niluka Karunaratne.

Scheduled Programme:
May 6 (Friday) - Morning - Weighing of both teams at Galadari Hotel. 5.00 p.m. Philippine team to leave for Stadium. 6.30 p.m. Meet to commence - Venue Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium after the arrival of Guest of Honor - Mark Green, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi - Deputy Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs and Chief Guest - Jeevan Kumaratunga, Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs.

May 8 (Sunday) - Morning - Weighing at Hotel - Philippines team. Weighing at Pannala - Sri Lankan team. 2.00 p.m. Philippines team leave for Pannala. 6.30 p.m. Meet to commence - Venue Slimline, Pannala.

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