Modestus Fernando

Who is Modestus Fernando?

Modestus Fernando SLSR is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Sri Lankan Army. He holds a Masters degree in Human Rights from the University of Colombo. Having been trained in the Defense Academies of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he served as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Detachment Commander and Commander of the 4th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. He participated in several military operations against the LTTE such as Operation Riviresa and the Vadamarachchi Operation and is the recipient of a number of awards and military decorations including the Desha Putra Sammanaya.

Combat related injuries sustained by him, resulted in a major turning point in his career. In the nineties his assignments were in the area of rehabilitation of fellow disabled soldiers. During this period he served as Commanding Officer, Rehabilitation Center-Ragama, Staff Officer attached to the Military Hospital Army Headquarters and subsequently at the Directorate of Rehabilitation.

During the period 2000 – 2008, as Course Director/Staff Officer 01 attached to the Directorate of Human Rights, he worked actively for the dissemination of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights principles and the integration of the same into training modules and operational procedures.