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E. S. Chellatamby, a yesteryear football official, at age 70 is due to leave for Norway shortly, to be in the care of his daughter and family in the last lap of his life. He served football, which was his second nature, from 1952 to 1968. He was a Council Member of the Ceylon Football Association from 1953 to 1968 representing the Government Service Soccer Association. He was the Hony. Treasurer of the GSSA. In 1964, he was Assistant Secretary to V. K. Arumugam in the CFA and during that year he was responsible for conducting the FA Cup, Inter-District and the Youth Competitions very successfully. He also conducted the administration of the CFA under the guidance of Hon. V. A. Sugathadasa, A. W. Musafer, V. K. Arumugam and P. M. S. Wijayasundaram.

In 1961 he accompanied the Ceylon team for the first Southern Pentangular Football Tournament in Bangalore and in the same year, he went as manager of the Government Services Soccer Association team that participated in the Ismail Gold Shield Floodlit Football Tournament in Multan, West Pakistan. In 1962, he went as manager of the Ceylon team that participated in the Second Southern Pentangular Football Tournament that was held in Madras.

As Secretary of the Ceylon Referees' Association, he was privileged to enjoy the help and assistance of a host of FIFA referees viz. B. M. Mantara, Michael F. de Silva, T. B. Bongso, H. C. McHeyzer, P. L. Pestonjee, M. A. Shariff, B. H. M. Preena, Philip Buultjens, K. Abeysinghe, A. J. M. Usoof, A. Ariyayanayagam, A. Ganeshalingam, A. Arunachalam, R. Palaniandy, P. M. S. Wijayasundaram, P. M. S. Arulanandam, J. C. A. Albert, K. C. Rajasingham, E. Sabalingam, E. Canagalingam, T. Perinpanayagam, R. Shanmugarajah, V. Thangamany, M. T. Fernando, Ernie Tissera, C. H. M. King, G. H. R. Hubert, V. K. Arumugam, Noble Arasaratnam, R. Canagasabey, M. M. Jinnah and many others. Always ready to give a helping hand were referees viz. Basil Jayawardena, M. Buhary, T. N. Mahil, M. Bagoos. There are many others whom don't come to my mind at this point of time. The conduct of matches at National and District Level would not have been possible without the wholehearted help and assistance of all the referees purely in an honorary capacity. At this time, the names of Henry Perera, L. A. Melder, E. A. de Motte, L. A. de Motte and Joe Fernando strikes me.

The administration of football in this country would not have been possible if not for dedicated persons such as Hon. V. A. Sugathadasa, E. Velayutham, Charlie Heenatigala, A. W. Musafer, Col. Douglas Ramanayake, N. T. M. David Nanayakkara, B. G. S. David, S. A. Dissanayake, P. M. S. Wijayasundaram, I. D. M. Van Twest, K. Abeysinghe, W. B. Abeysinghe, R. Jeevaratnam, V. K. Arumugam, Sam Varghese, M. D. Fernando, George Katugaha, S. K. Goonewardene, A. Ariyanayagam, Hugh Perera, A. R. M. Hameem, G. J. Pillai, Dr. N. D. Wijesekera, Laurence Fernando, T. Perinpanayagam, M. T. Fernando, G. A. K. Abeysekera, A. I. M. Kalil, D. W. Sooriyarachchi, and a host of others.

The top class coaches were undoubtedly D. S. Abrahams, Albert Fernando, Neville Abeygoonewardena, C. H. M. King, Edward Jayawardena and others.

The outstanding footballers of my time were undoubtedly Peter and Chris Ranasinghe, M. M. Hassimdeen, M. A. Ameer, Mahinda and Ratnapala Aluvihare, T. Perinpanayagam, R. Jeevaratnam, M. A. V. Fernando, Tom Ossen, Tom Deen, A. Arunachalam, M. Sivaratnam, S. M. Noor, K. A. Premadasa, M. Jainon, Denzil Peiris, E. Wickramasooriya, P. D. Sirisena, Karunapala Fernando, Khan and Junaid, Laheer, M. A. Aziz, S. N. J. Anthonypillai, Lawrence Fernando, T. M. Sainoon, K. D. Somapala, Leo Cornelis, K. S. Richard and many others.

Thrills and spills were provided in the FA Cup where Saunders, Sunrise, Harliquins, Army, Police, Badulla YMMA, Trinco Diamonds, Trinco Olympics and a couple of others participated in the final stages. It was a do or die battle all the way where vintage soccer was provided. The high calibre referees did not let the matches get out of hand.

FIFA rules and the FA rules were such that the Amateur status of the game had to be strictly observed. As a result, the much needed finances could not be obtained from sponsorships. The money had to come out of the pockets of members. The gate collections did not bring in the finances that should have come into the kitty, as a result, the officials had to stomach the public blame. E. Velayuthan, who loved the game so much, contributed generously. Hon. V. A. Sugathadasa was a lover of the game and contributed lavishly and was able to obtain donations from his host of rich friends.

The leagues had a hard time financially. Apart from contributing from their meagre resources, they were able to obtain assistance from lovers of the game in their towns.

Today, as I see, Manilal Fernando, whom I have not seen or met, reading from newspapers, is a great gift for soccer. He is a world renowned person in the realm of soccer.

The "Football House" which has been his personal effort, stands as a memorial to his invaluable contribution. He appears to be very very modest, or else the "Football House" should be named after him as "Manilal Fernando Football House". Football is the richer with him at the helm. His financial contribution to football, leagues and people connected to football is so great and cannot be measured. I wish him the very best in his pursuit of achieving excellence in Sri Lankan football. He deserves the unstinted support of everyone to help him in the high goals he has set for football.

In conclusion, I wish to add that I was most privileged to have been selected by the CFA as its FIFA referee to officiate at the Pre-Olympics in 1968 held in Tel Aviv, Israel.

T. Perinpanayagam, Deputy Inspector General of Police (rtd.)

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