Former top sportsman and promoter DIG B. M. Bodi Liyanage whose second death anniversary falls on Sunday August 18 was a celebrated figure both as a sportsman and promoter.
Every single sportsman and policeman in Kandy will remember the great sports promoter, benefactor and trusted poor man’s helper. Bodhi as he was known, was president of the Kandy Association Football league and Sri Lanka Football Federation.
A religious ceremony has been organized on August 18. He breathed his last when he was 69 years old and at the time of his death he was a retired senior Deputy Inspector General of Police. Bodi joined the Sri Lanka Police Service in 1974 as a trainee ASP and held various positions during his 34-year service, when he retired as senior DIG Administration. He served in the Vavuniya, Trincomalee, and Ampara district during the height of the war and was the first Commandant of the STF in 1983.
Liyanage was an old boy of Mahinda College, Galle where he excelled in sports and at the University he took part in hockey, football and getting his colours in rugby. It is in Kandy that he became well known for his good work and in sports promotion.
His best period was with football, where he rose to be president of the FFSL. It was H. Marikar who pulled him to football, cricket, rugby, and volleyball administration in Kandy. He took over the presidency of Kandy Football in 1990. He was invited to football when the game was at a low ebb. He also served in the committees of the Kandy Youth Sport Club, Kandy Sports Club, Kandy District Cricket Association , Kandy Volleyball Association, Cycling, Boxing and Central Province Cricket Association, where he served as president in most of the associations.
When he became the president of Kandy Association Football League he had a very clear mission. He wanted Kandy football to hit the top. It was under his presidency for the first time Kandy Association Football League won the Inter league tournament in 1992, and when Kandy won he was in the UK on a mission and H. Marikar acted for him. The winning team was given a chance to tour Nepal for a tournament that was the first time a Kandy team flew overseas for football. Liyanage became the first person from Kandy Association League to become the first president of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. It was during his presidency the much needed football house was opened by the Football Federation.
He gave a big hand for Kandy Police sports where he had the backing of then DIGs of Kandy like Premadasa Udugampola and Chandra Mendis. He maintained the Police grounds well, and promoted all sports, especially volleyball, football, hockey, cricket, and also gave a big support for cue sport. He was also a keen follower of lawn tennis, constructing a court at police barracks in Asgiriya. Bodhi gave a big hand for the Mahinda College old boys who were in Kandy, and became the first president of Mahinda College’s Old Boys Association, Kandy branch.
He had a dream that Sri Lanka could compete with the best of the best in sports and public life.
An officer and gentleman of his calibre is born only once in a life time.
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