|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 15 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Marawila Sports Club celebrates its Golden Jubilee Marawila, renowned for producing sports persons of national and international levels is privileged to have the presence of its unique Sports Club. This club is one of the few in Sri Lanka, which is proud to have its own premises. Although it is celebrating its 50th anniversary on 16th October 2004, the idea to start a Sports Club was born in 1920 by Messrs Emmanuel Fernando and Martin Fernando who returned from abroad after their studies. Their desire was to have a Sports Club at the level of Provincial Clubs in UK. They could only start a Tennis club then. By 1940 the membership of the Tennis Club increased and they had to move into another place. As the need for owning a piece of land was an obvious necessity, the members along with the Village Development Committee (Grama Sanwardhana Samithiya) held a carnival in 1953 to raise funds. It is a fine example for the present youth to know valuable contribution by the hard work of the general public and the club members put into this event to make it successful and profitable. Marawila Sports Club was able to buy half an acre of land with the profits shared with the Village Development Committee. Later on with further funds raised through donations of the well-wishers and life membership fees the club was able to buy an additional quarter of an acre. Marawila Sports Club building lies majestically in this land, which the old members worked hard to achieve. The members are proud to claim that they did not have to affiliate to any political group or beg for funds from any government to do their bit of service to their motherland. Among the pioneers of the club were Messrs. Emmanuel Fernando, Martin Fernando, Phillip Fernando, Richard Fernando, Harold Herath and Lucien Fernando. At present Marawila Sports Club, while providing recreation facilities to its members with a day-night Tennis Court, Badminton, Table Tennis, Pool, Aerobics, and Cricket, serve the community also with its sports needs. It helps the less privileged children of the area with their health and educational needs. They hold a regular children's party once a year attended by the children of all backgrounds. It is an occasion for most of the children in Marawila to mingle with each other to have a good time and add some joy and happiness to their lives. On 16th October, on the 50th anniversary of the club, a Dinner Dance will be held to raise funds to expand its services to the community and specially provide training facilities for the school children of the area and to establish a Fund to help the youth who are selected to participate in National and International sports events. The present patron Harold Herath, president Dr. Wijesiri, secretary Sunil Fernando, treasurer Manik Fernando along with all the club members wish to thank the public who participated and contributed towards the progress of the Sports Club. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
