12 Facts About Hugh Fernando

Warnakulasuriya Ichchampullige Hugh Fernando was a Sri Lankan politician born in Nainamadama.

Hugh Fernando was the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament.

Hugh Fernando started workers' unions and many other societies and thereby strengthened his power.

Hugh Fernando published a newspaper called Janatha Hatana which contained good news about workers.

At the 1956 general elections Hugh Fernando contested the Nattandiya electorate again as an independent candidate.

Hugh Fernando contacted a communicable disease and could not attend election meetings.

Hugh Fernando did not contest at the 1965 general elections when the United National Party government came into power Hugh Fernando was appointed Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Pakistan.

When Sir Albert Peries the Speaker and MP for Nattandiya died in 1968 Hugh Fernando returned to Sri Lanka and was elected at the by-election for the Nattandiya electorate.

Hugh Fernando was then appointed Minister of Trade and Commerce in the Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake's cabinet.

Hugh Fernando did not contest a seat in the 1977 general elections.

Hugh Fernando took part in a giant walk called 'Pada Yathra' from Colombo to Kataragama organised by the then deputy leader of opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa to protest against some undemocratic activities of the UNP government.

Whilst taking part in the walk Hugh Fernando fell ill and was admitted to Ratnapura hospital where he died on 2 April 1992.