Fernando was born on 8 May 1973.[1] He was educated at Joseph Vaz College.[2] He has a master's degree from the University of Northampton.[2] He has held various senior roles at state-owned organisations: Agricultural Products Marketing Authority (director), Ceylon Steel Corporation (director), Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (chairman), Lanka Sathosa (chairman), Paddy Marketing Board (director) and State Commercial (Cooperatives and Wholesale) Company (director).[2]
Fernando was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division in April 2018, as he attempted to leave Sri Lanka, in connection with the embezzlement of Rs. 39 million of state funds in the purchase of carom and checkers boards in 2014.[3][4] He was later released on bail.[5] In October 2019 a travel ban imposed on him but it was lifted in December 2019.[6][7]
On 29 May 2025, Fernando was convicted by the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in Colombo and sentenced to twenty-five years of rigorous imprisonment. The conviction relates to a charge filed in 2019 by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), accusing him of causing a loss of over Rs. 53 million to the government through the irregular procurement of sports equipment for distribution during the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election.[11][12][13]
