Nonis to assumes office as High Commissioner

by Our diplomatic Correspondent in Colombo

(August 19, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Our Sri Lanka External Affairs Ministry source in Colombo confirmed, the long awaited appointment of Dr Chris Nonis as High Commissioner for the United Kingdom has been finalised and he will assume duties from this week.

The much speculated appointment of Dr Nonis has been finalised after a lapse of nine months when his controversial predecessor Justice Nihal Jayasinghe departed to Cambodia to work for the International War Crimes Tribunal at the end of his term in November 2010.

According to information, the government preference was to appoint a military official, but due to unacceptability of such persons for the UK government over war crimes issues, the GoSL had to chose Dr Nonis.

Nonis is a doctor with an M.B.B.S. from Royal Free Medical College hospital in North West London. He is the incumbent chairman of Mackwoods and also serves as an advisor to many business organizations. He is also an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO).He studied in London and got a first class honours Bsc degree from Imperial College in London.He was also appointed as the Deputy Chairman of Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) in London in 2008. Dr. Nonis is the first Sri Lankan to hold such a high position in the Society. Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain is the patron of RSC.

During his three year term, Nonis is expected to play an important role to correct the adverse image of Sri Lanka in the UK with the help of the Sri Lanka’s multimillion pounds image building consultants Bell Pottinger.

It is unclear whether the Acting High Commissioner P M Amsa will be recalled to Colombo.

Whilst the preparations are underway to receive Dr Nonis as High Commissioner, the Sri Lankan Muslims close to the High Commission are said be angry over the decision of the Mission not to celebrate the annual Id al-Fitr at the end of the Ramadan fast. An angry Muslim Abdul Bazeer claimed as to why this is happening when A M Amsa, a Muslim, is playing a leading role at the High Commission.