My graduation from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, as a MEMOSIAN on September 13, 2013, marked a “360-degree life change” in my personal, professional, and sporting careers.

Just five days later, God Almighty bestowed upon me and my family a unique and rare blessing: a Private Audience with His Holiness Pope Francis in the Eternal City of Rome, on September 18, 2013. On this occasion, the Holy Father graciously invited me, my wife, and our four children to join him for his Private Holy Mass.

Upon returning to Sri Lanka, I enrolled at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University to pursue studies in Sports Science. On October 8, 2015, the President of Sri Lanka conferred upon me the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), the nation’s highest military medal for exceptional, distinguished, and loyal service, recognizing an unblemished record of moral and military conduct.

I subsequently completed both my MPhil and PhD in Sports Science, graduating on November 2, 2018, and became the first Sri Lankan to earn a PhD in Sports Science from a Sri Lankan university. In recognition of these achievements, I was honoured with the Presidential Sports Award for Most Outstanding Academic of the Year for both 2017 and 2018, which was presented on July 17, 2019. On January 1, 2020, the Institute of Sports Management in Sri Lanka appointed me as an Associate Professor.

Later, on July 12, 2023, the Government of Sri Lanka entrusted me with its highest sports administrative post, appointing me Director General of Sports at the Ministry of Sports. In this capacity, I was privileged to represent the Government of Sri Lanka at the Opening Ceremonies of both the Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. Previously, I had also managed Sri Lankan teams at the Athens 2004 and London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

For more than three decades, I have served my country and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka in numerous capacities. At present, I continue to serve the NOC under the exemplary leadership of Mr. Suresh Subramaniam as a National Course Director.

I salute and remain deeply grateful to Prof. Leigh Robinson, Prof. Tracy Taylor, Prof. Thierry Zintz, Prof. Ian Henry, Prof. Chella, Prof. Alain Ferrand, Mr. Richard Palmer, Mrs. Joan Duncan, Mr. Brian Minikin, Mr. Luiggino Torrigiani, Mrs. Lee Frew, as well as Ms. Joanna Zipser-Graves and Ms. Anne Wuillemin of Olympic Solidarity of MEMOS XVI, for their guidance and support in shaping my journey.

I look forward to working in close collaboration with MEMOS and my fellow MEMOSIANS in the years ahead.

Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, PhD
MEMOS XVI Graduate (English), 2012/2013