Father of Sri Lanka squash who paved the way for all of us

An Officer and Gentleman par excellence, diplomat and sincere friend indeed! That was Noel Fernando whom we knew as the “Father of Squash in Sri Lanka”!

I was privileged to get to know Noel way back in 1980 when the game of Squash was still in its infancy played at the Queen’s Club Squash complex owned by the Gymkhana Club built by the British around the 1950s. It was played for fun and fitness then. In 1980, Noel together with Britisher Mike Smith decided to have the first Official National Squash Championship and also to form the Sri Lanka Squash Federation with Mike Smith as President. Noel was Vice President, the late Srinath Sirimanne, his brother Wg. Cdr. Wimal Fernando - Hony. Treasurer, late Milroy de Silva - Hony. Secretary were members of the inaugural Committee.

The following year in 1981, Noel took over as President SFSL with a view to take Squash to another level participating in the inaugural Asian Squash Championships held from September 3, 1981 at the PIA Squash Complex in Karachi, Pakistan. Thirteen teams from Asia participated – Pakistan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Lebanon, Japan, Nepal, Kuwait, Thailand, Jordan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka team comprised – Flt. Lt. Oliver Guruge - Captain, Harish Weerasekera, Aruna Abeygunasekera, Ramesh de Silva, Mohamed Ramzi, Milroy de Silva – Manager/Referee and Christopher Dias - Asst. Manager/Referee and Wg. Cmr. Noel Fernando represented the 1st AGM of the Asian Squash Federation as delegate.

Sri Lanka emerged 10th overall with wins over Bangladesh, Nepal and Lebanon. The inexperience of playing for the first time on wooden and glass back courts was quite evident and overwhelming for our players!

Our dear President Wing Commander Noel was ever present at the matches encouraging our team to give of their best effort which they did in the circumstances. Noel continued for several years as President of SFSL and Squash gained momentum with his astute leadership. Today we see the fruits of his labour with our Sri Lankan players both men and women performing creditably well at Asian level, thanks to the vision of this officer and gentleman Wing Commander Noel Fernando – Father of Sri Lanka Squash”.

May he attain Nirvana. Christopher Dias