Later he was qualified with honours in Medicine and Surgery with a Licenciate that was recognised as a registerable qualification with General Medical Council in the United Kingdom.
[2] Fernando having worked as a Government Medical Officer in various parts of Sri Lanka after graduation joined Colombo National Hospital as an Assistant Pathologist in early 1950s.
Later he won a scholarship to University of Edinburgh and studied Medical Jurisprudence and trained under Sydney Smith.
In 1953, Fernando returned and assumed duties as Assistant Judicial Medical Officer in Colombo.
Although Fernando was designated as J.M.O Colombo he was J.M.O Ceylon as his services were sought by Police and Courts all over the country in resolving complicated cases.