Tyronne FernandoPC (Sinhala:ටිරොන් ෆර්නැන්ඩො) (8 August 1941 – 26 February 2008) was aSri Lankan lawyer and politician who served asforeign minister from 2001 until 2004.^[1]

Hon. Tyronne Fernando PC
Tyronne Fernando speaking at theLondon School of Economics
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 2001–2004
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by	Lakshman Kadirgamar
Succeeded by	Lakshman Kadirgamar
5thGovernor of North Eastern Province
In office 2004–2006
Preceded by	Asoka Jayawardena
Succeeded by	Mohan Wijewickrama
Sri LankaAmbassador toFrance
In office 2007–2008
Member of Parliament forMoratuwa
In office 1977–1989
Preceded by	Wimalasiri De Mel
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	8 August 1941 Ceylon
Died	26 February 2008(2008-02-26) (aged 66) Colombo,Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	United National Party
Alma mater	Keble College, Oxford, Royal College, Colombo
Occupation	Politician andDiplomat
Profession	Lawyer

Fernando was born on 8 August 1941.^[1] Fernando was a relation ofPuran Appu.^[1] He attendedRoyal College, Colombo, andS. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia,^[2] and earned hisMA inpolitical science atKeble College, Oxford.^[1] AtOxford he was the first Asian to be the chairman of theLabour Club. He also gained a diploma injournalism from theLondon School of Journalism. He enteredGray's Inn,London and was called to the Bar of England and Wales, as abarrister.

Returning to Ceylon, he became anadvocate and started his legal practice in theunofficial bar. He then joined theAttorney-General's Department and worked as aCrown Counsel for period of ten years, before reverting to theunofficial bar and building a practice in criminal law for another 10 years. He was later appointed aPresident's Counsel and elevated to Master of the BenchGray's Inn.^[1]

In 1974, Fernando entered politics after he joined theUnited National Party. He was elected toParliament in 1977 as a representative of theMoratuwa constituency, a stronghold of theLanka Sama Samaja Party, he won with a record majority of 15,000. Fernando served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during the presidency ofJ.R. Jayewardene.^[1] He also served asMinister of Information in 1993 during the presidency ofRanasinghe Premadasa.^[1] He also served as the head ofSri Lanka Cricket Board from 1991 until 1994.^[1]

In 2001, the new prime minister,Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed him to serve asMinister of Foreign Affairs. He served in this capacity until 2004. During his tenure, he sought the position ofSecretary General of the United Nations.

Fernando resigned from the United National Party after the2004 election, during which he lost his parliamentary seat. He was later appointed by PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga as Governor of the formerNorth-East Province on 8 December 2004.^[1] He served as governor until January 2006.^[1] In 2007 he was appointed theSri Lankan Ambassador to France.

Fernando died on 26 February 2008 at a private hospital inColombo.^[1] At the time of his death, he was serving as aSenior advisor to PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa.^[1] Fernando had one child, Tehani Mathew.^[1]

• Obituary from theDaily News
• Tyronne Fernando passed away (update) fromAsian Tribune.