Retired from the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 2007, following Ambassadorial postings in Thailand (with concurrent accreditation to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), in Sweden (with concurrent accreditation to all the Nordic and Baltic countries) and as Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, (with concurrent accreditation to the Holy See).

She has a B.A. with First Class Honors from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Maitrise d'Etudes Modernes from the University of Caen, France, M.I.P.P. from Johns Hopkins SAIS, Washington D.C. and is currently completing a long delayed Ph.D in India-Sri Lanka relations at the University of Colombo.

Fernando is editor/publisher of the 2009 limited edition Gardens of Lanka, looking at links between garden history and early diplomatic relations, and Sri Pada: Peak Heritage of Lanka, to be released at the end of 2011. She supports charities in the areas of national heritage, child welfare and persons with disabilities, as well as animal protection and enjoys jazz, opera and art.