Commodore Shemal Fernando new shooting president

Mahindananda Aluthgamage Minister of Sports has appointed an Interim body for the speedy development of shooting sports in Sri Lanka. The committee will be responsible to ensure efficient management of the Sri Lanka National Shooting Sports Federation under the terms of Section 33 of the Sports Law No.25 of 1973.

Commodore Shemal Fernando of the Sri Lanka Navy has been picked to serve as the Chairman of the new committee. He spearheaded shooting administration during the 10th South Asian Games held in Colombo in 2006 as the Secretary General of the National Association guiding Sri Lanka to secure a rich haul of 18 medals.

He served the association as vice president as well for a considerable period. Commodore Fernando had contributed immensely towards the promotion of both Athletics and Shooting in Sri Lanka. He managed Shooting and Athletics Teams to the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Military Games. A product of Royal College's golden era of sports, Fernando started his sports management career as the Chairman, Athletics of the Navy. Commodore Fernando served as the Secretary General of the Defence Services Sports Board and Chairman of the organising committee of the first Defence Services Games of Sri Lanka held after the successful completion of the humanitarian operations in 2009.

The new Interim Committee includes the President of the National Olympic Committee, Hemasiri Fernando who represented Sri Lanka in Shooting and spearheaded sports administration in Sri Lanka with admiration. The committee include another leading sports promoter in Zal Chitti who also represented the country in Shooting Dushan Wijewickrema and Waruna Deepal Liyanarachchi have been appointed as the Secretary and Treasurer respectively. The newly appointed committee is as follows:

Commodore Shemal Fernando - Chairman, Dushan Wijewickrema - Secretary, Waruna Deepal Liyanarachchi - Treasurer, Members: Hemasiri Fernando, Zal Chitty, Brigadier Kenneth Edima, Air Commodore Krishan Yahampath, U.K. Dissanayake, Elmore Rodrigo and S.A. Milroy Peiris.