# Austin Fernando > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Austin_Fernando > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Austin_Fernando.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Fernando > Source revision: 1347541234 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Sri Lankan civil servant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use British English|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Austin Fernando | native_name = | native_name_lang = | honorific_suffix = [SLAS](/source/Sri_Lanka_Administrative_Service) | image = | image_size = | order1 = | office1 = [Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka](/source/Secretary_to_the_President_of_Sri_Lanka) | term_start1 = 1 July 2017 | term_end1 = 5 July 2018 | president1 = [Maithripala Sirisena](/source/Maithripala_Sirisena) | predecessor1 = [P. B. Abeykoon](/source/P._B._Abeykoon) | successor1 = | order2 = [2nd](/source/List_of_Governors_of_Eastern_Province) | office2 = Governor of the Eastern Province | term_start2 = 27 January 2015 | term_end2 = 1 July 2017 | predecessor2 = [Mohan Wijewickrama](/source/Mohan_Wijewickrama) | successor2 = [Rohitha Bogollagama](/source/Rohitha_Bogollagama) | order3 = | office3 = Member of the Constitutional Council | term_start3 = 23 January 2026 | term_end3 = | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = | party = | other_party = | spouse = | partner = | relations = | children = | alma_mater = [University of Ceylon, Peradeniya](/source/University_of_Ceylon%2C_Peradeniya) | occupation = | profession = Civil servant | website = | footnotes = | blank1 = Ethnicity | data1 = [Sinhalese](/source/Sinhalese_people) }} '''Kalupage Austin Fernando''' is a [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka)n civil servant and the current [Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India](/source/Sri_Lankan_High_Commissioner_to_India). He had previously served as [Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka](/source/Secretary_to_the_President_of_Sri_Lanka), [Defence Secretary](/source/Defence_Secretary_(Sri_Lanka)), and [Governor of the Eastern Province](/source/Governor_of_the_Eastern_Province). ==Early life and education== Fernando was educated at [Richmond College, Galle](/source/Richmond_College%2C_Galle).{{cite news|last1=Abeywardena|first1=Hemantha|title=Austin Fernando: a model civil servant as new presidential advisor|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/86236|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[Asian Tribune](/source/Asian_Tribune)|date=16 January 2015}} After school, he joined the [University of Ceylon, Peradeniya](/source/University_of_Ceylon%2C_Peradeniya) where he graduated with a [B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree.{{cite news|title=Austin Fernando's reminiscences in controversial new book|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/07/23/art03.asp|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[Daily News](/source/Daily_News_(Sri_Lanka))|date=23 July 2008|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} He later received an [M.B.A.](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration) degree from the [University of Sri Jayewardenepura](/source/University_of_Sri_Jayewardenepura). ==Career== Fernando taught at [Nagoda Royal National College](/source/Nagoda_Royal_National_College) for a period of time before joining the [Sri Lanka Administrative Service](/source/Sri_Lanka_Administrative_Service) (SLAS).{{cite news|last1=Miranda|first1=Sujitha|title=Nagoda Royal's triumphs adds beauty and value to the village|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130217/education/nagoda-royals-triumphs-adds-beauty-and-value-to-the-village-33179.html|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(Sri_Lanka))|date=17 February 2013|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} He was [Government Agent](/source/Government_Agent_(Sri_Lanka)) for [Polonnaruwa District](/source/Polonnaruwa_District) and [Nuwara Eliya District](/source/Nuwara_Eliya_District). He was later Commissioner of Cooperative Development and [Postmaster General](/source/Postmaster_General_of_Sri_Lanka). He was then [secretary](/source/Permanent_Secretary) at the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, and Provincial Councils. He was a consultant to the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) before being appointed Defence Secretary in December 2001. Newly elected [President](/source/President_of_Sri_Lanka) [Maithripala Sirisena](/source/Maithripala_Sirisena) appointed Fernando as a presidential adviser on 15 January 2015.{{cite news|title=Austin Fernando appointed as Presidential advisor|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/61321/austin-ranavirajah-karunaratne-new-presidential-advisors|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Daily Mirror](/source/The_Daily_Mirror_(Sri_Lanka))|date=15 January 2015|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=Weerasinghe |first1=Chamikara |title=Three Presidential advisers appointed |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/three-presidential-advisers-appointed |work=[Daily News](/source/Daily_News_(Sri_Lanka)) |date=18 January 2015 |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208155952/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local%2Fthree-presidential-advisers-appointed |archivedate=8 February 2015 }} He was thereafter appointed Governor of the Eastern Province on 27 January 2015.{{cite journal|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2015/PDF/Feb/1900_09/1900_09%20E.pdf |date=2 February 2015 |title=PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President |journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary |volume=1900/09 |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208150847/http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2015/PDF/Feb/1900_09/1900_09%20E.pdf |archivedate=8 February 2015 }}{{cite news|title=Austin, Ellawala new Governors|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/62233/six-new-governors-sworn-in|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Daily Mirror](/source/The_Daily_Mirror_(Sri_Lanka))|date=27 January 2015|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|title=Six Provincial Governors take oaths|url=http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/37782-six-provincial-governors-take-oaths.html|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Nation](/source/The_Nation_(Sri_Lanka))|date=27 January 2015|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307032653/http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/37782-six-provincial-governors-take-oaths.html|archive-date=7 March 2016|url-status=dead}} He resigned in order to become [Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka](/source/Secretary_to_the_President_of_Sri_Lanka) on 1 July 2017 which he held till 5 July 2018.{{cite news|title=Austin President's Secy., Bogollagama Eastern Governor|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Austin-President-s-Secy-Bogollagama-Eastern-Governor-132123.html|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Daily Mirror](/source/The_Daily_Mirror_(Sri_Lanka))|date=4 July 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=Yapa|first1=Ayshwarya|title=Austin Fernando sworn in as Presidential Secretary|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=41707|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[Ada Derana](/source/Ada_Derana)|date=4 July 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite journal|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2017/7/2027-36_E.pdf|date=13 July 2017|title=PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & C., by the President|journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary|volume=2027/36|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} Fernando was appointed to the [Constitutional Council](/source/Constitutional_Council_(Sri_Lanka)) in 2026.https://www.newsfirst.lk/2026/01/23/new-civil-society-members-appointed-to-constitutional-council ==Writings== Fernando is the author of ''My Belly is White: Reminiscences of a Peacetime Secretary of Defence''.{{cite news|last1=de Mel|first1=Tara|title=When peace was given a chance|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080727/Plus/sundaytimesplus_14.html|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Sunday Times](/source/The_Sunday_Times_(Sri_Lanka))|date=27 July 2008|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=David|first1=Marianne|title=A Man of Peace|url=http://www.nation.lk/2008/07/13/special1.htm|accessdate=4 July 2017|work=[The Nation](/source/The_Nation_(Sri_Lanka))|date=13 July 2008|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224734/http://www.nation.lk/2008/07/13/special1.htm|url-status=dead}} ==See also== *[List of Sri Lankan non-career diplomats](/source/List_of_Sri_Lankan_non-career_diplomats) ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[Mohan Wijewickrama](/source/Mohan_Wijewickrama)}} {{s-ttl|title=[Governor of Eastern Province](/source/Governor_of_Eastern_Province)|years=2015–2017}} {{s-aft|after=[Rohitha Bogollagama](/source/Rohitha_Bogollagama)}} {{s-end}} {{Governors of Eastern Province}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fernando, Austin}} Category:Alumni of Richmond College, Galle Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon (Peradeniya) Category:Alumni of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Category:Government Agents (Sri Lanka) Category:Governors of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka Category:High commissioners of Sri Lanka to India Category:Living people Category:Permanent secretaries of Sri Lanka Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Sinhalese people Category:Sri Lankan teachers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Austin Fernando](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Fernando) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Fernando?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.