Austin Fernando
SLAS
Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka
In office
1 July 2017 – 5 July 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Preceded byP. B. Abeykoon
2nd Governor of the Eastern Province
In office
27 January 2015 – 1 July 2017
Preceded byMohan Wijewickrama
Succeeded byRohitha Bogollagama
Personal details
Alma materUniversity of Ceylon, Peradeniya
ProfessionCivil servant
EthnicitySinhalese

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.

Early life and education

Fernando was educated at Richmond College, Galle.[1] After school he joined the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya from where he graduated with a B.A. degree.[2] He later received a M.B.A. degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[2]

Career

Fernando 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 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 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

Fernando is the author of My Belly is White: Reminiscences of a Peacetime Secretary of Defence.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Abeywardena, Hemantha (16 January 2015). "Austin Fernando: a model civil servant as new presidential advisor". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Austin Fernando appointed as Presidential advisor". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  5. ^ Weerasinghe, Chamikara (18 January 2015). "Three Presidential advisers appointed". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Austin, Ellawala new Governors". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Austin President's Secy. , Bogollagama Eastern Governor". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  10. ^ Yapa, Ayshwarya (4 July 2017). "Austin Fernando sworn in as Presidential Secretary". Ada Derana. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ de Mel, Tara (27 July 2008). "When peace was given a chance". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  13. ^ 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.
Political offices Preceded byMohan Wijewickrama Governor of Eastern Province 2015–2017 Succeeded byRohitha Bogollagama
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