A cycle of life from golf courses to bulldozers to books for children

Priath Fernando grew up in a family of accomplished golfers in Sri Lanka, with his father being a golf legend and his mother holding the record for being the oldest woman to win a national golf championship. His sister, Tiru, was Sri Lanka's first professional lady golfer. Fernando's career began with United Tractor & Equipment (UTE), which his grandfather founded in 1947.

After joining UTE in 1974, he faced challenges due to strict import controls and the pressure to meet quality and service standards. Fernando's experience in competitive golf helped him survive and grow the business despite many competitors entering the market with low prices.

By the time Fernando retired as Chairman of UTE in 2017, he had developed a passion for developing golf in Sri Lanka. He worked on projects like the Victoria Golf Resort and served as Captain and President of the Royal Colombo Golf Club. He also contributed to developing golf in Sri Lanka through the Sri Lanka Golf Union. Fernando's sister, Tiru, later became involved in developing a Masterplan for an International Golf Course in Jaffna.

Fernando's latest venture combines his passion for golf and children's books. He saw an opportunity to bring selected titles into the Sri Lankan market, focusing on educational content and messages of empathy, kindness, and inclusion. The pilot project consists of five titles from Weeratunga's "Voices of Hope" series, which deals with understanding children who are differently abled.

The series is being launched at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, with Fernando delivering the welcome address as Chairman of Vibhava Academy. The strategy aims to reach a wider audience by exploring partnerships with institutions such as banks, service organizations, schools, and corporations.