Tyronne Fernando
Encyclopedia
Tyronne Fernando PC
(8 August 1941 – 26 February 2008) was a Sri Lanka
n politician who served as Foreign Minister
from 2001 until 2004.
. He attended Royal College, Colombo, one of Sri Lanka's premier schools and earned his MA in political science
at Keble College
of the Oxford University. At Oxford he was the first Asian to be the Chairman of the Labour Club
. He also has a Diploma in journalism
from the London
School of Journalism.
, London
and was called to the Bar of England and Wales, as a Barrister
. Returning to Sri Lanka, he worked as a Crown Counsel for period of 10 years and work as a criminal lawyer for another 10 years. He was later appointed a President's Counsel and elevated to Master of the Bench Gray's Inn
.
. He was elected to Parliament
in 1977 as a representative of the Moratuwa
constituency, a stronghold of the LSSP he won with a record majority of 15,000. Fernando served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during the presidency of J.R. Jayewardene. He also served as Minister of Information
in 1993 during the presidency of Ranasinghe Premadasa
. He also served as the head of Sri Lanka Cricket Board
from 1991 until 1994.
In 2001, the new Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed him to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs
. He served in this capacity until 2004. During his tenure, he sought the position of Secretary General of the United Nations.
Fernando resigned from the United National Party after the 2004 election
, during which he lost his parliamentary seat. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga
as Governor of the former North-East Province
on 8 December 2004. He served as governor until January 2006. In 2007 he was appointed as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France
.
Fernando died on 26 February 2008 at a private hospital in Colombo. At the time of his death, he was serving as a Senior advisor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa
. Fernando had one child, Shehani Mathew. The Tyronne Fernando Cricket Stadium
is named in his honor.
President's Counsel (Sri Lanka)
President's Counsel is a professional rank, as their status is conferred by the president, recognised by the courts and wear silk gowns of a special design...
(8 August 1941 – 26 February 2008) was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n politician who served as Foreign Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. The post was created in 1978 when the former Ministry of External Affairs and Defence was separated into two ministries...
from 2001 until 2004.
Early life and education
Fernando was born on August 8, 1941. Fernando was a descendant of Puran AppuPuran Appu
Weerahennadige Francisco Fernando alias Puran Appu is one of the notable personalities in Sri Lanka's history. He was born on November 1812 in the coastal town of Moratuwa. He left Moratuwa at the age of 13 and stayed in Ratnapura with his uncle, who was the first Sinhalese proctor, and moved to...
. He attended Royal College, Colombo, one of Sri Lanka's premier schools and earned his MA in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Keble College
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
of the Oxford University. At Oxford he was the first Asian to be the Chairman of the Labour Club
Oxford University Labour Club
Oxford University Labour Club was founded in 1919 to provide a voice for Labour Party values and for socialism and social democracy at Oxford University, England...
. He also has a Diploma in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
School of Journalism.
Legal career
He entered Gray's InnGray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was called to the Bar of England and Wales, as a Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. Returning to Sri Lanka, he worked as a Crown Counsel for period of 10 years and work as a criminal lawyer for another 10 years. He was later appointed a President's Counsel and elevated to Master of the Bench Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Political career
In 1974, Fernando entered politics after he joined the United National PartyUnited National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
. He was elected to Parliament
Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
in 1977 as a representative of the Moratuwa
Moratuwa
Moratuwa is a city on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo main highway, 18 km south of the capital, Colombo. Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water, except in the north of the city, by the Indian Ocean on the west...
constituency, a stronghold of the LSSP he won with a record majority of 15,000. Fernando served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during the presidency of J.R. Jayewardene. He also served as Minister of Information
Minister of Information
The Ministry of Information , headed by the Minister of Information, was a United Kingdom government department created briefly at the end of World War I and again during World War II...
in 1993 during the presidency of Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
. He also served as the head of Sri Lanka Cricket Board
Sri Lanka Cricket
Sri Lanka Cricket, formerly the Board for Cricket Control in Sri Lanka , is the controlling body for cricket in Sri Lanka. It operates the Sri Lankan cricket team and first-class cricket within Sri Lanka....
from 1991 until 1994.
In 2001, the new Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed him to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. The post was created in 1978 when the former Ministry of External Affairs and Defence was separated into two ministries...
. He served in this capacity until 2004. During his tenure, he sought the position of Secretary General of the United Nations.
Fernando resigned from the United National Party after the 2004 election
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004
Parliamentary elections were held in Sri Lanka on 2 April 2004. The ruling United National Party of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated, winning only eighty two seats in the 225-member Sri Lankan parliament. The opposition United People's Freedom Alliance won 105 seats...
, during which he lost his parliamentary seat. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga born June 29, 1945) was the 4th Executive president of Sri Lanka, serving from November 12, 1994 to November 19, 2005. The daughter of two former Prime Ministers, she was also the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until end of 2005...
as Governor of the former North-East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
on 8 December 2004. He served as governor until January 2006. In 2007 he was appointed as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Fernando died on 26 February 2008 at a private hospital in Colombo. At the time of his death, he was serving as a Senior advisor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
. Fernando had one child, Shehani Mathew. The Tyronne Fernando Cricket Stadium
Tyronne Fernando Stadium
De Soysa Park is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people and hosted its first Test match in 1992. The ground opened in 1941 and gained Test status in 1979...
is named in his honor.
External links
- Obituary from the Daily NewsDaily News (Sri Lanka)Founded in 1918, the Ceylon Daily News is an English daily that claims the largest circulation among peoples in Sri Lanka. It is now owned by the government of Sri Lanka....