John Chresta Fernando

Warnakulasuriya John Chresta Luckshan Chresta Fernando, known by his initials W.J. L.C. Fernando, is a Sri Lankan born on 28th September 1995 in Gonawala, Kelaniya. He was baptized on 15th October 1995 at St. Mary's Church in Paliyagoda, Kelaniya, and confirmed on 19th May 2013 at the same church. Driven by his strong Sinhalese heritage, John Chresta holds his cultural roots close to his heart. 
==Education==
John Chresta embarked on his educational journey at St. Peter's College, Colombo 04, Sri Lanka. He demonstrated a keen interest in language and successfully completed the English language course (JYL/SYL) at the British Council in Colombo from 2006 to 2011. His thirst for knowledge led him to achieve a distinction in the Future kids Advanced level course in 2009. Alongside these accomplishments, John Chresta delved into theology, enrolling in the diploma course at St. Joseph Vaz Theologate, and honed his English language skills at the Aquinas College of Higher Education, Colombo.
His academic prowess was evident when he aced the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) examination in 2011, scoring an impressive 9 A passes in subjects like Sinhala, English, History, Mathematics, Science and technology, Roman Catholicism, Health science, Art, Commerce, and Accountancy. Building on this success, he pursued a stream in Arts for his G.C.E. (Advance Level) examination in 2014, with subjects such as Logic and Scientific Method, Christianity, and Economics, achieving a remarkable Z Score of 1.8827.
John Chresta's thirst for knowledge didn't stop at traditional academics. He went on to complete several advanced courses, including a prescribed course of study and examinations in Tamil language of the Department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Humanities at the University of Kelaniya in July 2016, a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course by Cambridge University, UK in October 2017, and a Human Rights Awareness course conducted by the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum in Kampala, Uganda, in June 2018.
In his quest for linguistic and academic excellence, he also undertook the Language Assessment and Linguistics study course at Lancaster University, England, in May 2018, and the Techniques of Academic Counseling at Siam University, Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2019. 
John Chresta's commitment to personal and academic development led him to acquire several diplomas. Notably, he earned a Diploma in Counseling from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka in August 2015, a Diploma in English from the English Language Teaching Unit at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka in December 2016, and a Diploma in Tamil Language and Culture from the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Kelaniya in 2016. John Chresta's educational journey is complemented by a diverse set of skills and an impressive multilingual proficiency. He is a proficient speaker of Sinhala and English, and he possesses intermediate knowledge of Latin, Greek, Italian, and French.
His international academic journey saw him completing a Diploma in Applied Linguistics from the University of Bristol, England, in January 2018, and a High Diploma in International Relationships and Foreign Affairs from the Faculty of Social Science, Arts, and Humanities at Lincoln University, Malaysia, in 2018. John Chresta's academic pursuits culminated in May 2021, when he was granted a Diploma in Psychology by The British Psychological Society, in a program conducted by Oxford University.
Continuing his education, John Chresta pursued a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honors in Economics from February 2015 to January 2019 at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He majored in Development Economics, Macro Economics, and Micro Economics, while also minoring in International Relations and Sociology. His dedication led to him achieving First Class Honors with a GPA of 3.71.
Following this achievement, John Chresta embarked on a bachelor’s degree Program in Sacred Theology and Ecclesiastical Philosophy from March 2019 to August 2021 at the Faculty of Sacred Theology in University of Santo Tomas, Manila in Philippines, graduating CUM LAUDE with a GPA of 3.63. This special two-year degree program was offered under the patronage of His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
John Chresta's academic pursuits also led him to earn a Master (Licentiate) in Philosophy from October 2018 to March 2020. He conducted his studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Santo Tomas, Manila in Philippines, combined with the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. His dissertation, titled as "The relationship between gender difference and social issues in the light of religion," showcased his research interests in philosophy.
John Chresta's educational journey also included a Master’s In Education from January 2021 to August 2022, with a focus on Education Psychology at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. His dissertation, titled "Impacts of the Virtual Teaching Mentality on the Development of the Soft Skills of the Learners," demonstrated his commitment to education and psychology.
His thirst for knowledge extended to the field of linguistics, as he earned a Master of Science in Linguistics from August 2022 to April 2023, specializing in Morphology, Psychology of language processing and learning, and Children's language development. This program was completed at the Department of Language Study and Linguistics, University of Bristol in UK, with a passing grade of Merit for distant learning assessment.
Lastly, John Chresta achieved the pinnacle of academic success when he earned his Doctor of Philosophy on December 5th, 2022. This prestigious degree was granted by the Department of Education at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. His dissertation, titled "The colonial Structural Education towards Eastern modern education mentality: A Socio-psycholinguistic study," reflected his deep understanding of the socio-psycholinguistic dynamics in education.
John Chresta's academic journey showcases his remarkable dedication to diverse fields of study and his pursuit of knowledge at the highest levels of education.
==Career==
===Professional Experiences===
John Chresta held several significant roles in his professional pathway. He served as the Counselor to the President from the year 2019, appointed by His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena and confirmed by His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe on September 12, 2022, focusing on youth affairs and police management. Additionally, he assumed the role of Chairman at St. John Chresta's Education and Personal Developing Service under the University of Colombo, starting from September 2021. Furthermore, as the Co-founder of the "Over the Boundaries" Social Empowerment and Personality Development Program, he made significant contributions to the field from 2020. He also served as an Academic Counselor at the University of Colombo starting in March 2022.
===Graduate Teaching===
John Chresta's passion for teaching was evident in his various academic roles. He held the position of Senior Lecturer at the Department of Education, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand from September 28, 2022 to February 3, 2023. In this period, he taught courses in Teaching ethics and fundamentals of education (Unit ED015), psychological development(Unit ED023), and Introduction for Law of readiness, Law of exercise, and Law of effect.
Earlier in his teaching career, he was a Probationary Lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Department of Education Psychology, from May 25, 2021, to June 15, 2022, where he taught subjects related to language and education (EDU 2320), as well as introduction to psychology(EDU 3124). His teaching journey extended to being a Visiting Lecturer at Siam University in Bangkok, Thailand, starting in October 2021, where he covered topics in psychology and South Asian social structure.
Furthermore, he served as a Visiting Lecturer at the Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, starting in September 2022, where he instructed courses in psychology and introduced counseling. In an earlier role as an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, Department of Economics, University of Colombo in Sri Lanka from November 2020 to April 2021, he taught microeconomics, development economics, and policymaking.
===Chief Examiner===
John Chresta's professional influence include to one of his roles as a Chief Examiner. He undertook this responsibility for the University of Cambridge from January 2017, as well as for DOENTS Sri Lanka and the IELTS examination conducted by the British Council, Sri Lanka. In this role, he played a vital part in assessing and evaluating academic achievements and qualifications. John Chresta's rich tapestry of professional experiences and teaching roles reflects his dedication to education and its multifaceted aspects, from counseling and empowerment programs to nurturing future educators and serving as a trusted examiner.
===Career Life===
John Chresta has worked as a Psychological Counselor at Our Lady of Victories Catholic School in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines from April 2019 to January 2020. He also served as a Consultant at The National Institute of Education (NIE) from January 2017, offering his expertise in education. In addition, he worked as an Invigilator for the Department of Examination in Sri Lanka from December 2015 to March 2021. John Chresta's passion for carrier extended as an External Supervisor for Undergraduate Dissertation at The School of Business, SLIT, from November 2021 to April 2022.
Earlier in his career, he took on the role of a Teacher for Christianity at St. Joseph's College in Colombo-10 from January 2015 to April 2018. He also served as the Vice Principal at Little Flower English Sunday School, Kelaniya Parish, Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka, from January 2016 to January 2018.
His multifaceted experience includes being a Hostel Master at St. Peter's College, Colombo-04, in Sri Lanka from January to November 2016 and a Temporary Teacher at St. Peter's College, Colombo-04, in Sri Lanka for Logic and Scientific Method from September 2014 to January 2015. He also contributed as a Visiting Lecturer at St. Joseph's College, Colombo-10, in Sri Lanka focusing on Christianity. John Chresta served as an Instructor at St. Peter's Higher Secondary School in Trichy district, Tamil Nadu, India, teaching Catholic tradition from August 9, 2018. He worked as an Advanced Level Teacher at St. Therese's Sunday School in Kelaniya Parish and dedicated his time as a Volunteer Teacher at St. Peter's School in Pitipana, Negombo, Kelaniya, Gampaha and Colombo from April 2016 to April 2017.
===Projects===
John Chresta actively participated in various projects, including volunteering at the University of Colombo under the U.S. Department of State U.S. Embassy - Colombo, in Sri Lanka Public Affairs Section, since February 4, 2017. He was also a dedicated volunteer for the fundraising project of Help Age Sri Lanka from 2008 to 2012, contributing to a noble cause.
===Workshops===
John Chresta engaged in workshops that reflected his commitment to social harmony and community building. He participated in the Social Harmony Project Programs & Workshop conducted by the Student Counselors Office for the Social Harmony Project 2017/18, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State U.S. Embassy Colombo Public Affairs Section Public Diplomacy Grants Program. He also attended an Inter-University Volunteer Workshop organized by the Vice-Chancellor's grant of the University of Colombo from February 4 to 6, 2017, further demonstrating his dedication to education and societal betterment.
== Achievements==
John Chresta's achievements are a testament to his academic excellence and contributions to various fields.
===Scholarships===
He was awarded with the Mahapola Higher Education (Merit) Scholarship for his outstanding performance in the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination in 2014. This scholarship supported his undergraduate studies at the University of Colombo from 2015 to 2019. Additionally, he received the Thilakawardena Scholarship for being the Best Scholar in the final year, which was donated by the Thilakawardena brothers on February 21, 2014. John Chresta's remarkable debating skills earned him the Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka (AAT) Scholarship for the best debater of the semifinals of the Debater inter-school debate competition organized by Sirasa T.V on July 8, 2014.
===Awards===
John Chresta's academic achievements were acknowledged with several prestigious awards. He received the M.W. Jayasuriya Prize for Economics for his outstanding performance during his Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honors in Economics in 2019 at the annual convocation of the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
His dedication to academic excellence was further recognized with the "Thilakawardena Shield," awarded for the most outstanding academic performance and as the Best Scholar in the final year of advanced level in 2014 at St. Peter's College's annual prize-giving event. He also received several academic awards during his school years. These include "The Winifred Jayawardene Memorial Prize" for excellent academic performance in Christianity in 2012 for the academic year 2011, "The Rev. Fr. Sunil Herman Perera Memorial Prize" for excellent academic performance in Sinhala (1st language) in 2012, and "The Hiran Thilakaratne Memorial Prize" for excellent academic performance in English (2nd language) in 2012, all awarded at St. Peter's College's annual prize-giving ceremony. In the same year, John Chresta was honored with "The Deceased Past Students Memorial Prize" for his excellent academic performance in the Arts stream and "The M.M.M. Mohideen Memorial Prize" for his outstanding performance in Logic and Scientific Method.
==Others==
===Spiritual Formation===
John Chresta's spiritual journey began in May 2019 at the St. Bernard Institution in Iloilo, Philippines, where he delved into the realms of Latin language, Sacred Liturgy, Acting Magisterium, Spirituality, Sacred Scripture, and the Theology of St. Thomas Aquinas under the tutelage of FSSPX (Society of Saint Pius the X). Embracing the Tridentine Mass and the Traditional Rite, his pursuit continued at the St. Augustine Vocational Decrement Center in Madampe, Archdiocese of Colombo, from May to July 2021. 
In June 2022, John Chresta found himself at the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary in Borella, Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka, successfully passing the National Seminary Entrance Examination. His thirst for spiritual growth eventually led him to join the Society of Jesus in April 2023 after the completion of his doctoral studies.
===Extra-Curricular Activities===
John Chresta's engagement in extra-curricular activities demonstrates his commitment to community involvement and leadership. He has been a dedicated volunteer at the University of Colombo under the US. Department of State U.S. Embassy - Colombo, Public Affairs Section, since February 2017, and a member of the United Nation Volunteer International program and Volunteer Task Force Sri Lanka.
He actively been a member in the Catholic Student Movement of the University of Colombo from 2015 to 2018 and also in the Rotaract of the University of Colombo from 2015 to 2017.
===President===
Throughout his journey, John Chresta held leadership positions as the President of several key student and community organizations. He served as the President of the Altar Servers Association, Sinhala Literary and Drama Society, Library Society, and Art Society at St. Peter's College in Colombo from 2011 to 2014, 2012 to 2014, 2013 to 2014 and 2013 to 2014 respectively.
He was also the President of the Altar Servers Association at St. Theresa's Church in the Kelaniya Parish from 2006 to 2012. Also, He played a pivotal role as President in the Young Christian Student Movement and Holy Childhood Society at St. Theresa's Church from 2010 to 2011 and 2004 to 2010, respectively. Furthermore, he held the position of Captain of the Debate Society at St. Peter's College in Colombo from 2012 to 2014.
===Membership===
John Chresta's active involvement extended to various membership roles, such as being a member of the Parish Pastoral Council at St. Theresa's Church in the Kelaniya Parish from 2011 to 2018.
He also served as the Head Prefect of St. Theresa's Sunday School and acted as the Secretary and Editor of the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Unit at St. Peter's College in Colombo from 2013 to 2014.
He took on the role of Editor and Project Coordinator of the Media Society at the same institution during the same time frame. John Chresta was a dedicated member of the Young Christian Student Movement at St. Peter's College in Colombo from 2012 to 2014.
His involvement extended to being a member of the St. Peter's College Scout and Cadet Troop, the Western Choir, and the Chess Team. These activities reflect his diverse contributions to both educational and community organizations.
Category:1995 births
Category:Chulalongkorn University alumni
Category:Sri Lankan people