Shemal Fernando

Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando, RSP, USP, MSc, psc, FCMI, is a Sri Lankan admiral, athlete, sports administrator and journalist. He is the first and current Naval Secretary.

Early life
Joseph Conrad Shemal Fernando was born on December 16, 1959 in Negombo and was christened on Christmas Day of the same year at St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street in Negombo by his grand uncle Rev. Fr. Zacarius Dabrera, OMI. Born to Camillus Fernando a notable sportsman and Freeeda Dabrera, he is the eldest in a family of four children.

Education
Fernando started his education at Gonsalves Maha Vidyalaya in the hamlet of Bolawatte before moving on to St. Mary’s College, Negombo where he became the head prefect, games captain, 1st XI cricket captain and athletics captain. He completed his education at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo.

Having entered the Sri Lanka Navy, Fernando successfully completed his basic professional training at Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. He is a graduate (Class 45) of the Naval War College of the United States where he was the first Sri Lankan military officer to be elected Student President. He obtained a Masters in Management from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in 2003. Currently, he is reading for his PhD.

He won an Olympic Scholarship from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and became the first Sri Lankan Sports Administrator to receive a fully pledged Masters in Sports Management. He is a member of the Class XVI of IOC's renowned MEMOS Programme. Fernando also obtained a Diploma on Conflict Resolution from the University of Peace in 2006. He is a recipient of diplomas in Diplomacy, International Relations and Computer Science.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a life member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka and the Institute of Supply and Materials Management of Sri Lanka.

Naval career
He joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet on October 1, 1979 straight from college, becoming the first to do so from the Puttlam District. At the Naval and Maritime Academy he received the coveted trophies for the Best all round Officer Cadet in Academical, Logistics and Secretarial subjects at the 30th Anniversary Parade of the Sri Lanka Navy from the then Sri Lankan President Junius Richard Jayewardene.

Having been commissioned as a Sub-lieutenant in the Logistics Branch of the Sri Lanka Navy, he went on to serve in the conflict areas and took part in the Vadamarachchi Operation, Riviresa Campaign and Humanitarian Operations in the North and East. He was decorated for bravery in 1981 whilst serving at Joint Services Special Operations Headquarters (JOSSOP) in Vavunia.

He is the youngest officer to be promoted to the senior ranks of Commander and Captain as well as the flag ranks of Commodore and Rear Admiral amongst logistics officers.

The key Naval appointments he held include Director General Logistics, Director General Budget and Finance, Director Naval Logistics, Director Naval Victualling and Clothing, Commodore Superintendent of Logistics, Captain Logistics Department of the Eastern and Western Naval Commands.

He had also served as the Senior Staff Officer (Pay and Pension), Senior Staff Officer (Foreign Procurement), Senior Staff Officer (Victualling and Clothing) and Supply Officer of Naval and Maritime Academy and on numerous ships and shore establishments.

Besides, he had served as the Adjutant and Logistics Officer of the Joint Services Special Operations Headquarters (JOSSOP) functioned in Vavuniya and as Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff at Joint Operations Headquarters.

Staff of the Commander of the Navy
During his career he had served on the staff of Naval Chiefs of Sri Lanka on 10 occasions Commanders of the Navy. He served as the Flag Lieutenant and Personal Assistant to Vice Admiral Asoka de Silva (1985/86), as Aide and Personal Secretary to Admiral Clancy Fernando (1991/1992) and Admiral Mohan Samarasekera (1992/1994) and as Secretary to Admiral Cecil Tissera (1997/2000), Admiral Daya Sandagiri (2001/2002 & 2004/2005), Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda (2005/2009) and Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe (2009/2010).

He became the first Sri Lankan Naval Secretary and served in the position under Admiral Somatillake Dissanayake (2011/2012) and Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage (2012/2013). In recognition of his exceptional achievements in professional spheres and noteworthy feats during his prestigious naval career, he has been commended by successive Commanders of the Navy on a record 18 occasions.

Medals
Rear Admiral Fernando’s personal decorations include the Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry conferred by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Uttama Seva Padakkama for exceptional service, North Humanitarian Operation Medal conferred by Prime Minister, Hon. D. M. Jayaratne, East Humanitarian Operation Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and Clasp, Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal and Clasp (conferred by Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC), 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, North and East Operations Medal and Clasp, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, Vadamarachchi Operation Medal, Riviresa Campaign Services Medal and the 5-star Commendation.

Athletics career
Fernando excelled in 100 m, Long Jump and High Jump as a junior and in 400 m, 800 m and Pentathlon as a senior. At college, he was the unbeaten Champion Athlete from Under 9 to Under 19 age groups. He won College Colours as well as Sri Lanka Schools Colours. He was crowned 'Sportsman of the Year' twice.

He represented Sri Lanka Navy and Defence Services of Sri Lanka in his early days of the Naval career. He is a recipient of Sri Lanka Navy Colours. He is a life member of the renowned Ceylonese Track and Field Club, popularly known as the 'CT&FC'.

Sports Administration
He served as the Secretary General of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka in 2004 and 2012 and served as the Chairman of the National Competitions Committee for a long period. Previously, he has served as a Vice President of the National Body from 2002 to 2004 and 2010 to 2012.

As the Secretary General of the Defence Services Sports Board, he spearheaded the Defence Services Games 2010, the first edition since liberation of the country from the clutches of terrorism.

As Chairman Athletics of the Sri Lanka Navy, he produced Sri Lanka Navy's first Olympian at Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney and during his tenure and as Chairman, Defence Services Athletics, Sri Lanka gained its first ever World Military Games Medal in 2003.

He served the National Rifle Association as Vice President and Secretary General from 2001 to 2006 and 2010/ 2011. Currently, he is the President of the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka.

He managed the National Teams to London 2012 Olympic Games, Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, Catania 2003 World Military Games and Doha 2006 Asian Games.

He also served as Chef-de-Mission of Sri Lanka Contingents to Youth Commonwealth Games in Isle of Man in 2011, IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrook in 2002 and 50th World Military Cross Country in Bordeaux, France in 2002.

As an Executive Committee member of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, he served as Chairman of the Victory Ceremonies Committee of the South Asian Games held in Colombo 2006 and 1st South Asian Beach Games in Hambanthota 2011.

Writing
He is a freelance journalist, whose byline appears regularly in magazines and newspapers in Sri Lanka. He is well known for his scholarly work on the lives and times of intellectuals and personalities. His first article was published in 1987 and has contributed to this sphere for over 25 years.

His works on St. Anne, Blessed Mother Teresa, Blessed John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando, Bishop Edmund Peiris, Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando, Naval heroes - Admiral Lord Nelson and Admiral Mountbatten and Admiral Clancy Fernando; Kotelawala Defence University and Royal College have won the admiration of many.

Social work
Presently, he is a Council Member of the Royal College Union and Chairman of the War Heroes Committee of the Royal College, in which capacity he was instrumental the construction of the Royal College War Memorial.

He had served as the President of the Old Boys Association and Chairman of the 125th Jubilee Committee of St. Mary’s College, Negombo and in the School Development Society of St Bridget's Convent, Colombo.

Family
He married Carmel at All Saints' Church, Colombo on June 25, 1987. The wedding solemenized by his uncle, Rev. Fr. Bertram Dabrera then Chief Pastor of All Saints' Church, Colombo and was attended by his aunt, Rev. Sr. Mary Lenita, AC. He has four children Mary Anne Shanil, Mary Anne Shalini, Joseph Camillus Shemal and Mary Anne Shenali.

The silver jubilee of his marriage was marked with a holy mass at All Saints' Church, Colombo preceded by His LordshipValence Mendis and vows solemnized by His Grace Nicholas Marcus Fernando, Archbishop Emeritus of Colombo on July 2, 2012.

He and his wife have received private audiences with Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica and with Pope Francis 1 at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.