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| Monday, 11 February 2002 |
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The death occurred yesterday of veteran journalist Clarence Fernando (90), a former Editor of the Daily News. Lawrence Melville Clarence Fernando, started as a teacher of De la Salle College, Kotahena which was followed by a stint with the Royal Ceylon Navy where he served in World War II for four years. His journalistic career began at the Ceylon Daily News, which he joined in March 1946 as a junior reporter. After training in London and Glasgow, with a spell at the Daily Express and the ANCL's London Editorial Office in 1953, he returned as News Editor of the Ceylon Observer. He left ANCL in 1973. He returned to ANCL as Editor, Daily News in 1979 and held that position until 1981. He was also Reuters correspondent in Colombo from 1962 to 1982. He also wrote to Travel News Asia, a travel trade journal published in Hong Kong. He won a PATA Gold Award in 1984 for one of his travel articles published in the Sunday Observer of October 9, 1983. He also wrote a book on his journalism experiences titled "Tales of Willie Bua and Others". As a newsman, Clarence had his biggest scoop when a Mecca bound pilgrim plane from Indonesia, coming in to land at Katunayake International Airport crashed on a steep projection of the seven virgin mountain range on December 4, 1974, killing all on board. He flashed this news through Reuters more than one hour ahead of other news agencies. He travelled widely on assignment and among other events, covered Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. He contributed to many local newspapers and foreign journals after formally retiring from active service. He recounted his experiences in columns such as Quirks (Weekend Express) and I Was There (Sunday Times). He leaves his wife Hema, son Nimal who is Deputy Editor of the Khaleej Times and two daughters in the United States. Funeral arrangements will be notified later. |
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