On finishing his schooling at De Mazenod College Kandana, Fernando enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army through its 18th Officer Cadet Intake on 27 April 1983.[1][3] Completing basic training at Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 7 November 1984 and posted to the Gemunu Watch.[3]
Operational commands he has held include:[4]
He has also held a number of staff appointments, having been General Staff Officer II at the Directorate of Training, Army Headquarters, Brigade Major of 521 Brigade, Director Psychological Operations, Director Sports, Director General Operations & Systems at the office of the Chief of the Defence Staff, Officer Instructor at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Commanding Officer at KDU and Commandant of the Army Training School in Maduruoya.[4]
Following the end of the civil war, Fernando was forced into retirement by Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse in a reshuffle of senior officers in the army, due to his associations with- and loyalty to- Mahinda Rajapakse's presidential rival Sarath Fonseka, whom Fernando had served under for the length of Eelam War IV.[3] He was reinstated by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena in February 2015 and appointed Commander, Security Force Headquarters- Mullaitivu (SFHQ-MLT).[3] On 4 August 2017, Fernando was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, and promoted to Chief of Staff on 27 March 2018 and served till January 2019 when he retired from the service.[3][7][4]
Sri Lanka Army