Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India is the Sri Lankan envoy to India. Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations typically exchange High Commissioners, rather than Ambassadors. Though there are a few technical differences (for instance, whereas Ambassadors present their diplomatic credentials to the host country's head of state, High Commissioners are accredited to the head of government), they are in practice one and the same office.
Prior to the establishment of formal diplomatic ties with India after Ceylon gained independence in 1948, the Government of British Ceylon maintained an official representative to the British Raj in India from 1942 to 1948. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India is concurrently accredited as Ambassador to both Bhutan and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka also maintains two Consuls-General in Chennai and Mumbai.
Representatives of the Government of Ceylon
Representative | Start of Term | End of Term |
---|---|---|
Sir Baron Jayathilake | 1942 | 1945 |
Sir Tikiri Bandara Panabokke Adigar | 1945 | 1946 |
M.W.H de Silva | 1947 | 1948 |
High Commissioners
High Commissioner | Start of Term | End of Term |
---|---|---|
Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva, KCMG | 1948 | 1950 |
C. Coomaraswamy | 1950 | 1955 |
Sir Edwin Wijeratne | 1955 | 1957 |
Sir Richard Aluwihare, KCMG, CBE | 1957 | 1963 |
Shirley Amerasinghe | 1963 | 1966 |
Siri Perera | 1967 | 1969 |
N.Q. Dias | 1970 | 1972 |
Justin Siriwardena | 1974 | 1977 |
Arthur Basnayake | 1977 | 1978 |
T.B.Panabokke | 1978 | 1982 |
Bernard Tilakaratna | 1982 | 1989 |
Dr Stanley Kalpage | 1989 | 1991 |
Dr Neville Kanakeratne | 1991 | 1994 |
Mangala Moonesinghe | 1995 | 2000 |
Dr Senake Bandaranayake | 2000 | 2002 |
Mangala Moonesinghe | 2002 | 2005 |
C.R.Jaysinghe | 2005 | 2009 |
Prasad Kariyawasam | 2009 | 2014 |
Sudarshana Senavirathne | 2014 | 2015 |
Esala Weerakoon | 2015 | incumbent |