Fernando received his early education at St. Anne's College in Kurunegala, where his father was the Municipal Commissioner.[1] Later he attended St. Benedict's College, Colombo, where he captained the cricket team in 1959.[2] In a match against the team from St. Anne's College, he dismissed the opposition for 50, taking all 10 wickets for 24 runs, including a hat-trick, then scored a double-century in 157 minutes, all in one day's play. The feat of taking all 10 wickets and scoring a double-century in the same match is believed to be unique in world cricket.[1]
His bowling fell away, but he represented Ceylon in the 1960s as a batsman and slip fielder.[1] He made his first-class debut for a Ceylon Board President's XI when they defeated a Pakistan team in 1964–65.[3] In 1965-66 he top-scored with 40 in a one-day match for Ceylon against the touring MCC.[4] In 1966-67 he toured Pakistan with the Ceylon team, playing in one of the unofficial Tests, and a few weeks later, against the touring West Indians, scored 48 and 72 not out.[5]
In the 1970s Fernando played league cricket in England: two seasons with Fieldhouse in the South Lancashire League and one season for Walsden in the Central Lancashire League.[1]
Fernando migrated to Australia in 1984[1] and played several seasons of club cricket for Jacana in Melbourne.[6] He and his wife Stella lived in Melbourne. They had two sons, Tyrone and Dilshan, and a daughter, Marina.[2] In September 2018, he was one of 49 former Sri Lankan cricketers felicitated by Sri Lanka Cricket, to honour them for their services before Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).[7][8] Fernando died in Melbourne on 31 March 2026, at the age of 86.[9]