New pavilion of CR and FC to be opened today

RUGBY: The Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CR & FC) will be entering a new era in its 85th year of existence when it declares open its new pavilion today at 6.30 p.m.

The building will be ceremoniously opened by the main sponsors of the building the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), President Hurley Silveira and the CEO of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) David Griffiths.

The main architect behind this project has been Manilal Fernando, Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation as well as the Chairman of Holcim Lanka (Pvt) Ltd who was instrumental in securing 40% of the funding of the total project cost, whilst HSBC and other sponsors of the CR and FC were able to obtain the balance funds needed immediately.

No building of the CR & FC will be complete without its stalwarts and immense contributors of yesteryear being involved, and who can boast of, two such great ruggerites other than the CR and FC - Mahesh Rodrigo and Summa Navaratnem. They will be always remembered for what they have done for CR & FC.

At this juncture, it would be going against the call of duty if the services of another great CR ruggerite Kavan Rambulkwella is not mentioned for his role in strengthening CR & FC. He will be sadly missed.

The current pavilion was the brainchild of yet another member, Ashroff (Ashy) Cader who was the General Secretary in the early 60's.

The new building includes a viewing deck that will seat 500 people, six corporate boxes, two state-of-the-art dressing rooms, and outside bar lounge for members and their guests, a lounge bar for members only, and finally a fine dining restaurant to serve members and their guests.