Sir Leo Fernando, CBE (18 November 1895 –30 November 1954) was a Ceylonese businessman and politician. He was a member of parliament for the Buttala Electoral District.
Warusahennedige Leo Fernando was born on 18 November 1895 in Panadura. He developed a considerable ownership in the transport sector,having established the Panadura Bus Company and owning transport lorries. He also owned many Tea and Rubber plantations in Ceylon,the Gikiyanakande and Meddegedara estates among them. The Gikiyanakande estate was owned previously by Queen Elizabeth's cousin,Lord Elphinstone. The signing of the deeds at the time of purchase by Fernando were done at Buckingham Palace in 1950. He also owned significant shareholdings in Associated Motorways (AMW),Central Hospitals and the Southwestern Bus Company. The Panadura Bus Company was later nationalised in 1958 to form the Ceylon Transport Board. [1] [2] At the time of his death in 1954,he owned more than 10,000 acres of tea and rubber plantations,and his Panadura Motor Transit (PMT) owned more than 350 buses,200 lorries;apart from his significant investments in several top companies in Ceylon. He donated the college hall of Sri Sumangala College in his home town of Panadura. [3]
Fernando was elected to the Parliament of Ceylon at the 1st parliamentary election in 1947 representing the Buttala electorate,securing over 77% of the vote. [4] He retained the seat at the subsequent parliamentary elections in 1952,with a healthy 70% of the vote [5] and remained in parliament until his death in 1954.
He and wife,Lady Irene Fernando,had three daughters and a son. They are Kusumalatha,Mallika,Ranjith and Kanthi. His daughter,Mallika de Mel was the member of parliament for Matara (2001–2003),she had married Ronnie de Mel,a civil servant,who became the member of parliament for Devinuwara (1969–1988),Matara (1994–2000),National List member (2001–2004) and Minister of Finance (1977–1988). [6]
Fernando owned a custom built Ford Lincoln Cosmopolitan on which his name was engraved on all the accessories of the car,including the seats.[ citation needed ] He also owned cars built by Rolls-Royce.[ citation needed ]
He was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1951 Birthday Honours and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1953 New Year Honours. He was appointed Knights Bachelor in the 1955 New Year Honours,with the appointment being confirmed by the Queen the day before his death on 29 November 1954. The day before his death he was appointed Knights Bachelor on 29 November 1954 in the 1955 New Year Honours. [7]
Sir Susantha de Fonseka KBE was a Ceylonese statesman and diplomat. He was the Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon and following Ceylon's independence from Britain his first Ambassador to Burma and first Ambassador to Japan. De Fonseka took an active part in the country's struggle for universal suffrage and self-determination.
Ronald Joseph Godfrey de Mel,known as Ronnie de Mel,was a Sri Lankan civil servant and politician. He served as the Minister of Finance under President J. R. Jayewardene's government from 1977 to 1988 and was instrumental in the establishment of the free market economy in Sri Lanka. He was also the longest serving finance minister of Sri Lanka. De Mel served as a Member of Parliament on multiple occasions,first from the Devinuwara District from 1970 to 1989,then from the Matara District from 1994 to 2000,and finally as a National list member of Parliament from 2000 to 2004. He also served as a Senior Adviser to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Although he was a self-described socialist,de Mel has been credited with introducing capitalism and capitalist reforms to Sri Lanka's economy.
Alexander Perera Jayasuriya was a Ceylonese politician. He was a Minister of Health,Senator and Member of Parliament. He was one of the founders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Sir Senerat Gunewardene was a Sri Lankan lawyer,statesmen and diplomat. He was the first Minister without Portfolio,member of parliament and member of the State Council for Gampola,before serving in several top diplomatic posts such as Ceylon's Ambassador to Italy,Ceylon's Ambassador to the United States,where he was appointed concurrently as Ceylon's first Permanent Representative to United Nations and Ceylon's High Commissioner to United Kingdom.
Sir Bennet Soysa,CBE was a Ceylonese politician and philanthropist. He was a member of the 2nd State Council of Ceylon and the Senate of Ceylon. He was also Mayor of Kandy on five occasions and dedicated his wealth for the propagation of Buddhism.
Gladwin Conrad Hermon Kotelawala,MBE was a Ceylonese businessmen and a former Member of Parliament.
Sir Ukwatte Acharige Jayasundera was a prominent Ceylonese criminal lawyer and politician.
Leslie Simon Goonewardene was a prominent Sri Lankan statesman. He founded Sri Lanka's first political party,the Lanka Sama Samaja Party,in 1935,and served as its General-Secretary from 1935 to 1977. Goonewardene was a key figure in both the Indian independence movement and the Sri Lankan independence movement. He was designated as a National Hero of Sri Lanka for his leadership in the independence movement,and his efforts are celebrated each year on the Sri Lankan Independence Day.
Ceylonese recipients of British titles conferred on the advice of Her Majesty's Ceylon Ministers. This list includes all those who were born in,worked in or lived in Ceylon.
Reginald Abraham de Mel was a Ceylonese politician. Having served as the Mayor of Colombo,he served as the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees in the first parliament of Ceylon,until he was unseated by an election petition.
Colonel Candauda Arachchige Dharmapala,OBE,ED was Sri Lankan politician. He was a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industries,Housing and Social Services and Member of Parliament for Hakmana. He also served as the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence,and as Security Adviser to President J. R. Jayewardene.
Justin Wijayawardhene was a Sri Lankan teacher,author and member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Mahanama Samaraweera was a Sri Lankan politician. He was a Cabinet minister and a member of parliament.
Hector de Zoysa Siriwardena,CBE was a Ceylonese politician.
Alexander Nicholas de Abrew Abeysinge was a Ceylonese politician.
Malwattege Simon Andrew Peeris,OBE was a Ceylonese businessmen and politician.
Rajasinghe Hewavitarne,was a Ceylonese businessman and politician.
Mallika de Mel was a Sri Lankan social worker and politician. She was a Member of Parliament from the Matara electorate from 2001 to 2004.
Wijeweera Goonawardene Mahavidanege Albert Silva was a Ceylonese politician.
Kongahakankanamage Don David Perera was a Ceylonese planter,businessman and politician.