Austin Fernando, Secretary to President Maithripala Sirisena, has tendered his letter of resignation yesterday, sources close to the President told Colombo Telegraph.
Austin
The President had not been ready to accept this resignation and therefore Fernando had to leave the letter on his table and leave.
Fernando, apparently, had been disillusioned by recent political developments including the President’s wish to seek a second term despite promises made to the contrary.
Sirisena appointed Fernando as a presidential adviser on 15 January 2015. He was thereafter appointed Governor of the Eastern Province on the 27th of January 2015. He resigned in order to become Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka on the 1st of July 2017.
Austin was not available for comment.
Related stories:
Austin To Be Replaced By Another Fernando As President’s Secretary
ravinda / June 12, 2018
Maybe he just couldn’t function…
/
shankar / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Justice and Fairplay / June 13, 2018
Austin, you have gone honourably. Well done!
/
Bunjikirilli / June 12, 2018
Who will be the next to abuse the prez secretariat ? Those who dont want to get on with current prez would leave him. That is it. President should deliver his pledgeds as promised in Election manifesto. We not only wanted to chase away most abusive Rajapakshe but also get him into Jails for all the high crimes deliberately commited by him. That has not happened not even near to that yet.
I think AustinF is much better than Lalith weerathunga the most abusive would have been the scale.
Media men would pain the picture infavour of their pay masters. Canvan moves… dogs are barking.
/
Mallaiyuran / June 12, 2018
“Media men would pain the picture infavour of their pay masters. Canvan moves… dogs are barking.
That is what it is. The Kleptocracy & Tyranny Empire of Lankawe is built by the lies of the Colombo Media. The innocents within them, unfortunalt, paid the same price Tamils paid too.
Austin’s resignation is not to stop the Caravan. It will not stop the caravan. If New King comes back in 2020, certainly Austin will face some fraud charges, if not in his PS job, at least on his previous jobs. They may not drag his Presidential Secretary job to court as that could expose the New King’s other games too. In this term, it is unlikely as they are too busy with firefighting and holding on to the job.
In this term, most important is defaming Ranil. Like the cartwheel, the Lankawe poetics rolling up and down. Today’s news is saying, Old Brother Prince’s US citizenship is not for repudiate. If America is standing on that, it is almost sure now, beyond UNHRC, America has its own proofs on War Crimes of this guy. That makes Ranil as undisputed leader in the next election. At this time, it seems Ranil is the next EP. Period. When this good chance is there, he is unlikely to go for 20A either to Make PM as the country’s leaders and open up a new competition with Old King or to go for 20A which will allow dual citizens to compete and thus allow Old Brother Prince in the race. Communist have been foreseeing these obstacles and backing up Samal for EP. But that will be ok for Ranil. Ranil would think, anyway half of the Sinhalese doesn’t know who Samal is. Further Samal is another UNP Ranil but in SLFP (or GLP’s Slap Party). Once he comes to power he would kick out all Colvins and NMPs far beyond the Diyawanna Lake.
/
Isharath / June 12, 2018
“We not only wanted to chase away most abusive Rajapakshe” – See where we ended, in 2015 we only had Rajapakse in the chase list, now we have MR + couple more.
/
Summa / June 12, 2018
In the 1st place, he shouldn’t have accepted the post. Some years back, this was a prestigious, honourable designation which general public highly respected. But now that too is gone down the drain like the conduct of ‘honourable’ politicians
/
loku buruwa / June 12, 2018
Well done Austin- your name would have been disgraced if you continued to work for this scumbag of a Prez who was voted in to make changes and has double crossed the entire nation. The biggest betrayal in the history of the country and the gamarala has lost the respect of all decent citizens bar the SLPP criminals who are now doing a deal with him. Shame on you Sirisena – you will be kicked out by the people if you contest again.
/
Sinhala_Man / June 12, 2018
Dear “Loku Buruwa”,
.
Your comment has got the most likes so far (29, including one from me), and I too, am disgusted with Maithripala.
.
To defeat the Rajapaksas we had to find somebody who would be regarded as a friend by the non-English speaking, rural poor who are the majority, and who must necessarily remain in this country, however bad the going gets.
.
Yes, Maithirpala has betrayed us all. The hopper business didn’t really matter – it may have been necessary. I’d like to see more and more people denouncing this man who, having lost his nerve, shows that he has forgotten whatever principles he had.
.
However, one thing I beg of you:
.
Denounce him for all other reasons, but not for his background. At that time, in January 2015, we needed somebody with grass-roots appeal. He is educated – used to speak Sinhala beautifully (mow it has become shrill), but clearly he is lost when he has to deal with people who have quite different backgrounds. That by itself is not reprehensible. But he is not Presidential Material.
.
Don’t call him Gamarala, and the like.
.
We may come to regret it.
.
Thanks for the rest of your comment.
/
Buddhi Perera / June 12, 2018
(On bail) Lalith Weeratunga can replace him.
/
Simon De Silva / June 12, 2018
Buddhi,
no dobut, current prez would even trust him today … when looking at the appointments he has made sofar…
/
shankar / June 12, 2018
resigned after buggering us at the national archives.Next 30 years can’t get the bond report.UNP mole.
/
Steve / June 12, 2018
“The President had not been ready to accept this resignation and therefore Fernando had to leave the letter on his table and leave.”
Oh dear, is Mickey Mouse around !!!
/
shankar / June 12, 2018
steve
he should have first looked under the table for sira.The embarrassed sira would have said he was looking for something that had fallen down.
/
Percy / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
MAMS / June 12, 2018
Austin Fernando is an example of an Honorable Civil servant of bygone era. It’s a shame on gamarala not honor his commitment to quit lame duck presidency he was inducted in to on 8th, 9th Jan 2015. Writing is on the wall for most unpopular president Srilanka ever elected with 6.2 million people from all faith. This man betrayed all democratic principles for the lust of money. He will meet with waterloo if & when attempts to enter the fray.
/
Buddhi Perera / June 12, 2018
He was said to have addressed LTTErs as “Machan” during the time of the Peace Accord
/
Upali / June 12, 2018
Rats are abandoning the ship.
/
Mallaiyuran / June 12, 2018
But the ship is not wreck. It will be keep going on the piracy for another 16 months before it start to consolidate, count and share the loots with final ratios between the members.
/
rew / June 12, 2018
Filthy Rats are remaining. The decent people are leaving.
/
Jude Fernando / June 12, 2018
He is one of the few decent civil servants. I am not sure many of is caliber are left in the country.
/
Sinhala_Man / June 12, 2018
While that may be true, why did he send that Report to the Archives? If he didn’t want to be the mole who leaked it to the Public, he could have delayed, and then have submitted his resignation.
.
Surely he hasn’t only to be faithful to the Minister (or President) whom he serves; doesn’t he have a duty to be mindful of what happens to millions of people.
/
Kossa / June 12, 2018
MY3 pressurised Austin to seize TNL the buggar did it reluctanltly. They had an argument and Austin left.
/
Mallaiyuran / June 12, 2018
As per Media, when TNL was sealed, Austin was not in.
You are differing a lot from that. Can you give your backup here?
/
K. Anaga / June 12, 2018
Even the so called VIP’s live to learn, but don’t learn adequately to live.
/
Anuradha / June 12, 2018
When MY3 was GS Austin was the GA. Until he left yesterday MY3 called Austin Sir, his former master
/
Chuti Doni / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Onika / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Choi Dharmadasa / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Chokka Malli / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Shiromani Manage / June 12, 2018
If President is brave I make a chellenge – appoint Sujiva Senasinghe to Austin’s place. The country will become a paradise
/
Chun Paan / June 12, 2018
President,
It’s time to get rid of the other big muck too – Shiral Lakthilaka
/
Mrs Mahathanthila / June 12, 2018
Looks like this is bigger news than King Jong Un
/
Josh Kirinde / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Koshila Nilmini Gamaethige / June 12, 2018
It’s good he’s gone. A real ‘patohola karala’. Same as Maithri.
When defence secretary he took lunch to LTTE terrorists at the general hospital
/
Sigmy Chikera / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
joy dhanapala / June 12, 2018
Shaymon Jayasinge should write a piece about his mango friend Austin to dwell all the myth. Can’t wait mate
/
K A Sumanasekera / June 12, 2018
Although the same Breed, unlike SLFP Daya and UNP Sujiya, Old Austin is not interested in getting Santhosams from Aloysious.
After been a Pen Pusher at the highest level , for so long Old Austin doesn’t need it.
And he certainly doesn’t look like that Dr Ranil’s Avuncular Cabinet Minister who is on Viagra.
And helps the poor chicks in the Bible Belt with jobs in sweat shops, in return for favors.
Austin is certainly more up to speed too, unlike his boss Sira who is slow.
Sira took 3 years and 5 months to know about Dr Ranil’s 100 day Pilfering Spree which started with the CB & EPF Bust in just one hit.
And Austin is certainly not that type.
It must be darn hard for Austin to tolerate orders from Mahanamas guarding Sira , who are are totally a lesser Breed as the Colombo Journs said.
No wonder Austin left the letter and ran.
Wonder whether Austin ducked in for a Cuppa at Srikotha on his way home…
/
Jim softy / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
kolla / June 12, 2018
Has his son on law also resigned from the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK ? The chap was not qualified but Austin following good governance principles gave him the appointment so that he can earn some money and also gain contacts and status for other businesses.
/
Yahapalanaya / June 12, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Sinhala_Man / June 12, 2018
Kolla,
.
Could you please let us know about that aspect of manipulations? In this country, so much of time has got to be spent on finidng out what’s wrong with the way we are governed.
.
It’s all right by retired guys like me, but isn’t this very unfair by younger people?
/
Thondamany / June 12, 2018
Did he realise it was not the same Grama Sevaka he knew or took up the appointment to fix his Son In Law?
/
Rajash / June 12, 2018
Austin Fernando may be a good common candidate?
/
Sinhala_Man / June 12, 2018
Rajash,
Yes, he possibly has the necessary qualities for a guy who is to be put in complete control.
.
Most of us who spend hours are probably old ourselves; but isn’t age a major consideration here?
.
Our grand-children may ask us why we acquiesced. No, even that doesn’t matter. For us to adopt such a laid back attitude is probably unfair by them.
/
Justice and Fairplay / June 13, 2018
Barack Obama became President of the United States when 44. The current French President was 39.
This Ranil Wickramasinghe theory that one needs the sagacity of years to become an effective leader has been comprehensively disproved by Mr. Wickramasinghe himself.
/
justice / June 12, 2018
AF ruined his past record as a civil servant, with his stint as governor when he sided with the military in persecution, and now, by his attempt to hide a record of corruption – the CB Bond Commission Report.
/