Modestus Fernando

Modestus Fernando SLSR is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Sri Lankan Army. He holds a master's 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 (Son of the Nation Award).

During active combat operations

Lt. Fernando, 4SLSR

Modestus Fernando
Born	(1963-06-15)15 June 1963[1]
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Service/branch	Sri Lanka Army
Years of service	22 Years
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Commands held	Platoon/ Company/ Detachment Commander, 4th Sinha Regiment Battalion Sri Lanka Army
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War, Operation Riviresa, Vadamarachchi Operation, 1987-89 JVP Insurrection
Awards	Desha Putra Sammanaya Riviresa Campaign Services Medal Vadamarachchi Operation Medal North and East Operations Medal Purna Bhumi Padakkama Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal (partial list)
Other work	Deputy Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, Instructor at Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, USA

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 (Sri Lanka Army).

During the period 2000 – 2008, as Training Director/Staff Officer I 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.

Training Programme at DIILS

Following his retirement from active service in 2008, Modestus Fernando was appointed Deputy Commissioner General of Rehabilitation at the Bureau of Rehabilitation which was initially under Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms and thereafter under the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prisons Reform. His duties during this four-year assignment ending in April 2012, focused mainly on formulating and implementing programs for rehabilitation of LTTE ex-combatants, including child soldiers and their integration into family and society.

He has participated actively in broadening national advocacy and promotion of disabled peoples’ rights and contributed to sustained dialogue between all stakeholders. He has kept abreast of developments in this respect and shared his experiences in a number of events both in Sri Lanka and abroad.

He has followed an extensive Training Course on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration in Barcelona, Spain (2009). Modestus Fernando has taught undergraduate courses on trends in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the University of Colombo. He has also been a member of the adjunct faculty of the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (USA) since 2005 serving as an instructor on counter terrorism training programs.