Vernon Lorraine Benjamin MENDIS

Background

MENDIS, Vernon Lorraine Benjamin was born on December 5, 1925 in Colombo. Son of S. H. and Letitia Mendis.

Education

Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, Royal College, Colombo, University of Ceylon.

Career

Attached to High Commission, London. Third Secretary, Washington, District of Columbia 1951. Official Secretary, Tokyo 1953.

Charge d’affaires, Paris 1955.

First Secretary, Moscow 1958. Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1960, Counsellor for Foreign Relations 1961.

Counsellor, High Commission, in London 1963-1966. Deputy High Commissioner, New Delhi 1966-1969.

Director-General Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1970-1974.

High Commissioner in Canada and concurrently Ambassador to Cuba 75. High Commissioner in United Kingdom 1975-1978. Ambassador to France, Switzerland and the Vatican 1978-1980.

Secretary-General Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, Colombo 1962, Summit Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, Colombo 1976.

Chairman Commonwealth Sanctions Committee 1977. Chairman Asia Group, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 1979, Representative in Egypt and Sudan 1980-1985.

Chairman Telecommunications Board of Sri Lanka since 1986.

Interests

• Bird watching, hiking, films, wTiting.

Connections

Married Padma Rajapatirana in 1953.

Father:

South. H.

Mother:

Letitia Mendis

Spouse:

Padma Rajapatirana