Ernest Peter Arnold Fernando

Sir Ernest Peter Arnold Fernando, CBE (1919 - 1957) was a Ceylonese businessman and mine owner. He was the owner of the Bogala mines, one of the largest graphite mines in Ceylon. A patron of the arts, he gifted the building to establish the first school of national dance, the Kalayathanaya by Chitrasena.[1][2]

Born to Merenyage Arnolis Fernando, known as Cathonis Appu. He married Gymara Wickramasooriya, daughter of Jandoris Wickramasooriya and Celestina de Silva. Sir Ernest Fernando Trophy is annually awarded by the Royal Colombo Golf Club. He founded the Carlton Club Moratuwa in 1923. He was appointed a Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1954 Birthday Honours and was knighted as a Knight Bachelor in the 1955 Birthday Honours for social services. His nephew, Gerald Wickremasooriya was responsible for setting up the first major Sri Lankan music label, Sooriya Records.