Murdu Fernando

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Murdu Nirupa Bidushinie Fernando, PC is a Sri Lankan judge and lawyer currently serving as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka since 16 November 2024.^[1] Previously, she served as acting Chief Justice of Sri Lanka from 10 October to 16 November 2024.^[2] She is a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, prior to which she served as the senior additional solicitor general in the Attorney General's Department. She is the second woman to hold the position.

Fernando received an education at Princess of Wales' College, Moratuwa, where she was the head prefect and house captain, she won the awards for best debater and junior prize for the Most Outstanding Student. She went on to study law at the University of Colombo graduating with a Bachelor of Laws, and completed the law examinations at the Sri Lanka Law College, becoming the first in the order of merit and winning the first scholarship, the Sir Lalitha Rajapakse Memorial Prize and the A. B. Cooray Memorial Prize. She would later gain a Master of Laws from King’s College, London.^[3]

Fernando joined the Attorney General's Department as a state counsel, where she served for over 30 years having been promoted to senior state counsel, deputy solicitor general, additional solicitor general and senior additional solicitor general. She was appointed a President's Counsel while serving as an additional solicitor general.

Fernando was appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court by President Maithripala Sirisena in March 2018. She was appointed as acting Chief Justice of Sri Lanka on 10 October 2024 by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.^[2] On 16 November 2024, the Constitutional Council approved the recommendation to appoint Fernando as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.^[1]