Moves to patch up with Nonis

Moves are a foot with the use of certain channels to re-instate Dr. Chris Nonis as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Britain after the last month’s incident that led to Dr. Nonis to submitting his resignation, Daily Mirror learns.

A minister told Daily Mirror on condition of anonymity that attempts are being made to persuade Dr. Nonis to forget what happened and continue as the High Commissioner but he is said to have been non-committal up to yesterday.

The minister said the government was not keen to appoint a new High Commissioner to London immediately.

“After all Dr. Nonis can forget and forgive. The government is keen to re-appoint him as it will help to erase the acrimony and the bad blood between the two parties involved,” he said.

Dr. Nonis resigned in protest over an alleged assault on him that took place during a private party at the residence of Dilan Ariyawansa in New York on September 24.

Information Department announced on September 30 that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered an immediate inquiry into the alleged assault on Dr. Nonis by External Affairs Ministry’s Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardana and on the complaint said to have been filed against Dr. Nonis by the EAM Secretary Kshenuka Seneviratne.

Mr. Gunawardana had flatly denied any assault but admitted that there was an argument between him and Dr. Nonis. But Dr. Nonis was adamant in saying that he was assaulted by Mr. Gunawardana.

There is no news by the Government as to who carried out the inquiry or of any report on what transpired at the inquiry.  

However, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella played down the incident at the Cabinet news briefing and said the incident had taken place at a private function and therefore must not be taken seriously.

Meanwhile, when contacted by Daily Mirror yesterday, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris refused to comment on this matter or on the inquiry.

(Sandun A. Jayasekera)