Danister Thomas Fernando (9 February 1909 – 14 October 2004 ) is a pioneer Sri Lankan lyricist.

Later he wrote the famous songs: "Pem kekula pipi enavita mahade", "Premalokaya nivigiya", "Pemrella nagi gal thalle vadi", "Prema gange menik vage", "Jeewana gamana me sansare", "Somibara pamreli mahada nege", "Mihira pennadee ale pe mahade", "Malpethi ralarela athare", "Oo Enna", "Parana thale ape seeyala", "Premaloke Rajabhiseke", "Thirasara Ale Amaraneeyave", and "Nayanaveni Sudo Oba ma".

He was talented and passed (the so-called Guru Sishya Exam) with flying colours.

During this time Cumaratunga Munidasa had an invitation to teach Sinhala language to S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

After having teacher's training he had an appointment as an assistant principal at Balapitiya Sidhartha College.

Next he worked at Patabandimulla School now called Devananda College for four years and received a promotion to Principal, serving from 1 May 1934 to 3 January 1954.

He spend few hours finding out good sounding tinkles he noticed Shanthikumar come into this shop.

[6] He wrote "Preethe prethee", "Ai kalae yameku ale" lyrics to Asokamala.

Fernando also was a music teacher and while working in Koralawella school noticed W. D. Amaradeva's talent.

Later he went for his higher studies at Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, India in the middle of 1950.

says that he wrote "Peenamuko Kalugange" while travelling on the bus but could not write the last verse because Amaradewa needed to get off at Bambalapitiya.