Kalupage Austin Fernando is a Sri Lankan civil servant and the current Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India. He had previously served as Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, Defence Secretary, and Governor of the Eastern Province.
Austin Fernando | |
|---|---|
| Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 1 July 2017 – 5 July 2018 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | P. B. Abeykoon |
| 2nd Governor of the Eastern Province | |
| In office 27 January 2015 – 1 July 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mohan Wijewickrama |
| Succeeded by | Rohitha Bogollagama |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | University of Ceylon, Peradeniya |
| Profession | Civil servant |
| Ethnicity | Sinhalese |
Early life and education
editFernando was educated at Richmond College, Galle.[1] After school, he joined the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya where he graduated with a B.A. degree.[2] He later received an M.B.A. degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[2]
Career
editFernando taught at Nagoda Royal National College for a period of time before joining the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS).[2][3] He was Government Agent for Polonnaruwa District and Nuwara Eliya District.[2] He was later Commissioner of Cooperative Development and Postmaster General.[2] He was then secretary at the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, and Provincial Councils.[2] He was a consultant to the United Nations before being appointed Defence Secretary in December 2001.[2]
Newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Fernando as a presidential adviser on 15 January 2015.[4][5] He was thereafter appointed Governor of the Eastern Province on 27 January 2015.[6][7][8] He resigned in order to become Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka on 1 July 2017 which he held till 5 July 2018.[9][10][11]
Writings
editFernando is the author of My Belly is White: Reminiscences of a Peacetime Secretary of Defence.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ Abeywardena, Hemantha (16 January 2015). "Austin Fernando: a model civil servant as new presidential advisor". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Austin Fernando's reminiscences in controversial new book". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ Miranda, Sujitha (17 February 2013). "Nagoda Royal's triumphs adds beauty and value to the village". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "Austin Fernando appointed as Presidential advisor". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ Weerasinghe, Chamikara (18 January 2015). "Three Presidential advisers appointed". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015.
- ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1900/09. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2015.
- ^ "Austin, Ellawala new Governors". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "Six Provincial Governors take oaths". The Nation. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 27 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "Austin President's Secy. , Bogollagama Eastern Governor". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ Yapa, Ayshwarya (4 July 2017). "Austin Fernando sworn in as Presidential Secretary". Ada Derana. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & C., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 2027/36. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 13 July 2017.
- ^ de Mel, Tara (27 July 2008). "When peace was given a chance". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ David, Marianne (13 July 2008). "A Man of Peace". The Nation. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2017.