Remembering sports promoter DIG B. M. Liyanage

On Aug 24, 2021

Former sportsman DIG B. M. Liyanage was remembered by Kandy’s sports loving fraternity, on his fourth death anniversary on Wednesday.

A religious ceremony was held in Kandy with an alms-giving. He was 69 years old during his death.

Popularly known as ‘Bodhi’ he became the first president of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) from Kandy representing Kandy Football League. A product of Mahinda College, Galle he gave a big hand for sports in Kandy. He started his police career as an ASP and ended as a senior DIG.

Under his football presidency, the Kandy League won the first ever Inter-League Tournament by beating the Police. This winning team was given the opportunity to participate in a tournament in Nepal for the first time.

Liyanage also extended a big hand to promote sports in the Police Department in Kandy and received the backing of DIGs Premadasa Udugampola and Chandra Mendis.

He maintained the Police Ground well and promoted all sports that made him dedicate his life to sports as an officer and a gentleman.

He also gave a big hand for volleyball, lawn tennis, cricket, cycling and boxing. It was during his presidency that the Kandy Youth SC took up rugby and played in the Inter-Club ‘A’ Division. This great sportsman and promoter of sports died on August 18, 2017.