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Admiral W.W.E.C. Fernando ndc, psc, VSV - Sri Lanka Navy

01.11.1991 to 16.11.1992

Born on 10th October 1938 Admiral W.W.E.C. Fernando was educated at the Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa. He was enlisted to Sri Lanka Navy as an officer cadet on 17th December 1953, and on completion of 05 months basic training in the country proceeded for training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom. He was promoted to Midshipman in 1959, Acting Sub Lieutenant in 1960 and Sub Lieutenant on 01st March 1962. He was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant on 01st April 1963, Lieutenant Commander on 01st April 1971 and Commander on 01st March 1978. He was thereafter promoted to the ranks of Captain and Commodore on 01st January 1984 and 01st July 1986 respectively. In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and the Chief of Staff of Navy, and Vice Admiral on appointment to the office of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
 
Admiral W.W.E.C. Fernando held the memberships of the British Institute of Management, and the Nautical Institute of U.K and had obtained a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies. He  had also been conferred with the certificate of Master Mariners. He was the first President of Sri Lanka Branch of the Nautical Institute of U.K.
 
To his immense credit, he devised the first ever cryptography system, 'SINHALE' in SLN, and authored the book on ‘Customs and etiquettes of Services’.
 
Amongst the courses he had followed, Sea Training on board Pakistani Naval Flotilla from 15th January 1963 to 12th August 1963, Communication Specialization Course at INS Vendurathi, India from 01st September 1976 to 16th March 1977, Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India from 01st January 1977 to 01st December 1977 and National Defence College Course in New Delhi from 03rd January 1987 stand out.
 
Admiral W.W.E.C. Fernando had been awarded Ceylon Armed Services Long Services Medal and Clasp, Sri Lanka Navy 25th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and Clasp, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, President’s Inauguration Medal, Purna Bhumi Medal and Vishishta Seva Vibushanaya Medal.
 
He was targeted by LTTE for intensifying war to cut their MSR and assassinated in Colombo by suicide bomber on 16th November 1992; and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Admiral.