Murdhu Nirupa Bidushinie Fernando has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, marking a historic moment as she becomes the second woman to hold the position in the country’s history. The Constitutional Council approved her appointment in November 2024, following her tenure as Acting Chief Justice since 10 October 2024. 

Fernando’s career began with her education at Princess of Wales’ College, Moratuwa, where she excelled as head prefect and house captain, winning accolades such as Best Debater and Most Outstanding Student. She pursued law at the University of Colombo, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree. At the Sri Lanka Law College, she secured the top position in merit and earned prestigious prizes, including the Sir Lalitha Rajapakse Memorial Prize and the A. B. Cooray Memorial Prize. Fernando later obtained a Master of Laws degree from King’s College, London. 

Her professional journey started at the Attorney General’s Department as a state counsel, where she served for over three decades. She rose through the ranks, becoming senior state counsel, deputy solicitor general, additional solicitor general, and senior additional solicitor general. During this period, she was also appointed as a President’s Counsel in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the legal field. 

In March 2018, then-President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Fernando as a Justice of the Supreme Court. She was appointed as Acting Chief Justice by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in October 2024, after the retirement of then Chief Justice Jayantha Jayauriya.

Murdhu Fernando follows in the footsteps of Shirani Bandaranayake, the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, who served in 2011.