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by Elmo Rodrigopulle

It will be a red letter day for sportsmen in Kalutara, especially footballers when the Vernon U. Fernando Sports Complex is opened today by the Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse and President of the Asian Football Confederation Mohamed Bin Hammam Al Abdulla.

The man behind the building of this complex is that man for all seasons Manilal Fernando, who built it in memory of his beloved father, the late Vernon U. Fernando. A proud son of Kalutara, Manilal lived his dreams when he, with the assistance of the FIFA Goal Project built the imposing 'Football House', where the FFSL now have a house to call their own.

Also on the agenda today is the opening of the National Training Centre at Baddegana, another of the FIFA Goal Project, which is especially dedicated to the youth. The 'Football House' and the National Training Centre were both initiated by Manilal. His amazing rapport with Sepp Blatter, President - FIFA and AFC President, Bin Hammam helped secure these two projects. Blatter and Hammam have implicit trust in Fernando whose motto is honesty and transparency.

Even Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga acknowledge Manilal's hard work and dedication, and in messages to mark the occasion have paid Manilal glowing tributes.

Excepts from messages to mark the occasion:

'Many communities have their role models. Exemplary persons who by their acts of selfless service and generosity, serve as models that others may feel inspired to follow. They are usually persons of achievement who give back to the community some of the benefits that they derive from their success. While felicitating Manilal on his noble act of philanthropy, we congratulate the people of Kalutara for being the beneficiary of his generosity' - Prime Minister.

'We owe our grateful thanks to Joseph Blatter, President of the FIFA for the generous funding through the FIFA Goal Project, which made this project possible. The idea of the football training centre was initially conceived by none other than Manilal Fernando who is also the gracious donor of the Sports Complex in Kalutara. While pledging the support of my Ministry for the development of football in Sri Lanka, I would like to wish every success to the FFSL in their future endeavour to promote the game islandwide' - Sports Minister.

'Sri Lanka was one of the first countries, which completed a Goal Project, the new headquarters for the Football Federation, which I had the pleasure to inaugurate on 15th May, 2001.

'We are also happy to learn that another sports complex is opening in Kalutara, and we would like to congratulate Manilal Fernando who built this in his father's name with his own funds to develop football further in his home town' - Joseph Sepp Blatter, President - FIFA and Dr. Urs Linsi-General Secretary - FIFA.

'We are delighted to be informed that the Urban Council of Kalutara will have a new Sports pavilion and a training centre, so generously donated by Manilal Fernando in memory of his late father Vernon U. Fernando. We like to express our grateful thanks and appreciation to Manilal Fernando, Vice President of AFC for this magnanimous gesture, and we trust that the UC of Kalutara will maximize the use of this facility for the benefit of the children in that area - Mohammed Bin Hammam Al Abdulla, President - AFC and Dato Peter Velappan, General Secretary - AFC.

Vernon Upatissa Fernando in whose memory the Sports Complex in Kalutara was built is an old Wesleyite and later entered Law College and took oaths as an Attorney-at-Law.

The glowing tributes by these illustrious personalities shows the high esteem that Manilal is held in. What Manilal has done for the game of football will be written in letters of gold.

The late Vernon, Manilal's father used to extol on his children to - 'Do what you believe in, work hard on it, be disciplined and never be afraid to do it your way'. I could today say that all of us eventually, did it 'Our way' - Manilal Fernando in a tribute to his late father.

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