All-round sportsman and former Senior Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Percy EP Fernando passed away yesterday at the age of 88 after a long battle with a urine infection.
An old boy of St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya and Zahira College, Maradana he excelled in various sports such as boxing, athletics, tennis and cricket. Percy represented Prisons Department in sports and was the flyweight boxing champion who went onto win a bronze medal at the South East Asia Boxing Championships in Burma in 1957. Later as a boxing coach he had the distinction of producing several national champions.
He also represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Veterans Athletic Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1990 and in Singapore in 1992.
Percy joined the Department of Prisons as a jailor class II in 1957 and obtained rapid promotion to the rank of jailor class I and Chief Jailor. He rose to the rank of Senior Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and was one time Acting Commissioner of Prisons.
His exemplary record in the prison service and involvement in sports, social service activities and holding high positions was an example to everyone.
He was All-island JP, president of the Rotary Club of Kandy 1978-79, Gampaha District Scout Commissioner from 1981-86, and was awarded the ‘Thanks Badge’ for his support for scouting in Sri Lanka by former President R Premadasa.
Cremation will take place at Borella cemetery at 3 pm today.
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