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Sam Peter Christopher Fernando

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Sam Peter Christopher Fernando (born 18 January 1909, Colombo – died sometime after 1962) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and diplomat. He served as Cabinet Minister of Justice, was a Senator, and later worked as Ceylon’s Ambassador to Egypt.

Education and early career
- He studied at Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa; S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia; and University College, Colombo. He became a barrister at Gray’s Inn.
- After starting his legal practice, he was nominated to the Moratuwa Urban Council by Local Government Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

Political and diplomatic service
- He was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
- He became Minister of Justice on 23 July 1960 and served until March 1965. In this role, he was influential in Mrs Bandaranaike’s cabinet and played a key part in the prosecution of the 1962 attempted coup and in government actions regarding Roman Catholic schools.

Diplomatic role
- He later served as Ceylon’s ambassador to Egypt.

Family
- His daughter Sicille married Deshabandu Lalith Kotelawala.


This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:23 (CET).