Former Trinity College, Havelock Sports Club and Sri Lanka player Gamini Fernando who was a dedicated ruggerite during his playing days and later became a top class administrator will celebrate over a half a century of dedicated service with his favourite club Havelocks.
His greatest achievement at the Havelock Park club may be winning the Clifford Cup in his debut year as the President of the club.. Gamini was an outstanding third row forward during his hey days.
For Trinity he played as a second row forward with the players of the calibre of Denzil Kobbekkaduwa, Ken Murray, Mohamed Azain, T. H. Chunchie, Jayantha Jayawardene, Jayantissa Ratwatta, Talwatte, and N. T. E. Brohier to name a few. Gamini won his rugger colours in 1959.
He was a member of the first Trinity College Under-17 team of 1956 and later played for the 1st XV. He also was excelled as a cricketer and won his colours and played with the likes of N. Maralande,L. Thalakada, S. M. Perera and V. I. Kodithuwakku. He was a stylish bat and in1960 made a showpiece 61 against Zahira College at Asgiriya and won his cricket colours.
Straight from school he joined Havelocks SC in 1960 and gave the club his best as a player, captain, and an administrator . He led the park club to annex the Clifford Cup in 1967 beating their arch rivals CR and FC by 17 points to 15.His closest associate at rugby was Y. C. Chang. Both came down to the park club in1961 and played till 1969, the year Kandy Sports Club entered the Clifford Cup finals, that year. Y. C. Change later played for Kandy SC.
GaminiFernando played for Sri Lanka in the All India Championships in 1966 and 67 and also played against English Defence Services and foreign teams, which touched down in Sri Lanka.
Fernando took to coaching and helped his club in his initial year to win the Clifford Cup. He also coached the Police team . He Later became the National Rugby Coach in 1978 and 79 and also was a well respected referee.
He refereed the game between French University and an RAF team in 1979. That was the first time that two European teams played in Sri Lanka. Fernando also refereed the 1975 Cup final. Fernando, too, was one time President of the SLRFU.