About Sylvia Fernando
Lived 1904 – 1983 (aged 78–79). Sylvia Fernando was a Sri Lankan educator.
Sylvia Fernando (1904–1983) was a Sri Lankan educator and family planning advocate. She co-founded the Family Planning Association of Ceylon in 1953.
Sylvia Fernando was born to an elite family in Colombo, Ceylon in 1904. Her mother was a social worker and her father was an obstetrician and gynaecologist.
Fernando was a lead member of the All Ceylon Women's Conference.
Fernando met Swedish women's rights activist Elise Ottesen-Jensen in 1948. In 1954 they found an ally in Swedish ambassador Alva Myrdal and lobbied their governments to try a family planning project. In May 1958, Sweden agreed to provide $80,000 to distribute contraceptives in two communities in Ceylon.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Sylvia Fernando's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Sylvia Fernando's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Sylvia Fernando?
Sri Lankan educator and family planning advocate
When was Sylvia Fernando born?
Sylvia Fernando was born in 1904 in Colombo.
When did Sylvia Fernando die?
Sylvia Fernando died in 1983.
What was Sylvia Fernando's occupation?
Sylvia Fernando was an educator.
What nationality was Sylvia Fernando?
Sylvia Fernando was Sri Lankan.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sylvia Fernando. https://biography.guide/sylvia-fernando/
MLA: "Sylvia Fernando." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sylvia-fernando/.
Chicago: "Sylvia Fernando." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sylvia-fernando/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:28 UTC