Kalutara Stadium redevelopment work commenced

Bernard PERERA

REDEVELOPMENT: The Foundation stone was laid to commence the second stage of the redevelopment of the Vernon U. Fernando stadium Kalutara at a simple ceremony last Tuesday. Mrs Kamala Fernando wife of late Vernon U. Fernando was the chief guest on the occasion.

The project funded by the FIFA development project and the Asian Football Confederation with the full backing of Manilal Fernando the Vice President of AFC is to spend a sum of Rs 40 million.

This large project is a brainchild of Vice President AFC. Once the work is completed by March 2008 the programme will benefit four leading clubs from Kalutara Football League. Blue star SC, Kalutara Park SC, Super Beach SC and Greenfield SC. These four clubs have qualified to play in the top divisions in the local soccer scene.

This four leading clubs will be given club houses within the stadium premises, said the president of the Kalutara Football League Rahula Siriwardena speaking on the occasion.

He farther added that the stadium is to get all facilities including flood lights. For athletics a 400 m synthetic track will be laid which will be of great value to the schoolchildren from the District.

Al Haj M. S. M. Mubarak Chairman of Kalutara urban council said it was Manilal Fernando who helped the District to improve soccer. His yeoman services brought in good results for the sport when four teams out of fifteen teams managed to qualify to play in top divisions.

It is great to have a person of this calibre in this area where sportsmen and women get equal opportunities through his unstinted support extended during the past three decades. The Urban Council is ready to support his endeavour always as his ambition is to develop sports in the area.

It has become a bounden duty all of us to do so. He thanked Manilal Fernando and his family members for giving all the assistance rendered during the past. He also requested everyone to cooperate to make this project a success.