THE HIGH commissioner of Fiji visited Bicester Garrison to officially open a building in honour of fallen comrade Private Manasa Silibaravi.

The building, formerly a Garrison church, has been converted to become the community centre and will host a range of activities including yoga classes, coffee mornings and children’s play.

It will also serve as a place of worship for the Garrison’s multicultural communities including the Fijians.

The Fijian High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Jitoko Tikolevu was among those to officially open the building on October 11.

It has been named The Silibaravi Cebtre to honour the much loved soldier affectionately known to many as Sili.

He died alongside Corporal Andrew Roberts whilst serving with the then Bicester based 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC in an attack whilst on operations in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Afghanistan on the May 4, 2012.

The garrison previously marked Cpl Robert's life and ultimate sacrifice by naming its gymnasium after him.

Bicester's Garrison Commander Lt Col Lyndon Robinson said: "We are not here today to rekindle the sadness of Private Silibaravi’s passing.

"We are here simply to honour him and in our reflections, give thanks to all our Army’s Fijian soldiers."

Among those at the event were Sili’s brother, Saimon ‘Pita’ Silibaravi. who spoke of his love for his brother and the pride he felt towards him.

He said: "Sili was a Fijian, he was a Pioneer, he was a rugby player, he was a Christian, he was a soldier of the Queen, but by any measure he was loved."

During the event a commemorative painting of Sili was unveiled and will take pride of place in the centre.

The ceremony, which lasted about 40 minutes, also included the traditional preparation and the presentation of gifts of coconut shells filled with a drink called kava made from the root of the piper methysticum (pepper plant).

Afterwards the group sang a number of traditional hymns in South Pacific styled harmony in honour and respect of Private Silibaravi.