Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, the Swiss football administrator who serves as the eighth and current President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), arrives in Sri Lanka on 1 December by private jet. Blatter who was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange, has been re-elected as President in 2002, 2007 and 2011.

During his brief 36 hour visit to Sri Lanka, Blatter will meet with HE President Mahinda Rajapakse, declare open the much anticipated and long awaited Football Stadium in ………….  Jaffna, meet with the local football community, and preside over a banquet to celebrate the 75th anniversary of local football.

According to President FFSL, Ranjith Rodrigo, Blatter’s presence here will give local football a tremendous boost. “Mr Blatter’s presence at our 75th anniversary celebrations will give local football a much needed fillip, while the inauguration of the ‘One Goal’ theme, the unveiling of the 75th Anniversary logo, presentations to three of our very own ‘Football Legends’ and the launch of a brand new football team jersey , are all on the cards”.

Blatter who was born in Visp, Canton Valais, Switzerland, studied in Saint-Maurice, Switzerland, before he received a degree in business and economics from the University of Lausanne in 1959. Blatter has had a long and varied career, including posts such as Head of Public Relations of the Valaisan Tourist Board in his native Switzerland, as well as General Secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation. He was Director of Sports Timing and Relations of Longines S.A., and was involved in the organization of the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.

Since 1975, Blatter has been working at FIFA, first as Technical Director (1975–1981), then General Secretary (1981–1998), before his election as FIFA President in 1998.  He was re-elected as head of FIFA in 2002, and was re-elected unopposed for another four years on 31 May 2007, and again in 2011.

Rodrigo who holds the coveted post of President of the FFSL, and is a Member Associations Committee of FIFA, Member - Developing Committee of AFC, Vice President - South Asian Football Federation SAFF,  is the Federations 30th President and has a long association with football, dating from his days with the Negombo Youth Football Club in 1982.

Football aficionados may be assured of an exciting couple of days in the annals of local football, come December 1st !