Nalin Fernando | Impressions

Kachchakaduge Nalin Ruwanjeewa Fernando (born May 8, 1973) is a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament.

Nalin Fernando got educated at Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka.. He has a postgraduate degree in Business Management from the University of Colombo and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Northampton.

He has held various senior roles at state-owned organizations:

Director: Agricultural Products Marketing Authority,
Director: Ceylon Steel Corporation,
Chairman: Co-operative Wholesale Establishment,
Chairman: Lanka Sathosa,
Director: Paddy Marketing Board ,
and
Director: State Commercial (Cooperatives and Wholesale) Company.

On July 21, 2016, former Chairman of Sathosa Nalin Fernando was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on charges of alleged misuse of vehicles belonging to the government.

On April 6, 2018, the Colombo Crimes Division and the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) arrested Nalin Fernando, while attempting to flee the country for embezzling Rs 39 million of state funds in the purchase of carom and checkers boards in 2014. He was later released on bail.

In October 2019, the authorities imposed a travel ban on him and lifted it in December 2019.

Nalin Fernando and Mahinda Rajapaksa in October 2019.

In 2020, Nalin Fernando, belonging to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) took part in the parliamentary elections as an electoral alliance candidate of the Sri Lanka People’s Freedom Alliance. He contested in the Gampaha District and got elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Nine new cabinet ministers were sworn in on Friday, May 20, 2022, in debt-ridden Sri Lanka to ensure stability until the formation of a full cabinet. Nalin Fernando was sworn in as the Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security. His appointment did not evoke any surprise among the public.

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