Tyronne Fernando passes away

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 February 2008, 07:41 GMT]
Tyronne Fernando, an advisor to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka under the United National Party (UNP) government earlier, passed away in a private hospital in Colombo Tuesday morning, according to Sri Lankan presidential secretariat officials. Mr. Tyronne Fernando served as the governor of North-East Province Council (NEPC) from December 2004 till January 2006.

Tyronne Fernando who aspired to contest for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (UNO), while holding the post of Foreign Minister left the United National Party (UNP) when it was ousted from power in 2004 April general election. He did not get enough preferential votes to win a parliament seat and also was not considered by the UNP hierarchy for a national MP post thereafter.

He was appointed by former SL president Chandrika Kumaratunga as the fifth governor of the NEPC.

Later, he served as advisor to the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.