Moves to patch up with Nonis

By Sandun A Jayasekera

Efforts are being made to re-instate Dr. Chris Nonis as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Britain after last month’s alleged assault that led to Dr. Nonis submitting his resignation, Dailymirror learns.

"After all Dr. Nonis must forget and forgive. The Government is keen to re-appoint him as it will help erase the acrimony and the bad blood between the two parties involved"

A minister told Daily Mirror on condition of anonymity that attempts were being made to persuade Dr. Nonis to forget what happened and continue as the High Commissioner but he was said to have been non-committal up to yesterday.
The minister said the Government was not keen to appoint a new High Commissioner to Britain immediately.
“After all Dr. Nonis must forget and forgive. The Government is keen to re-appoint him as it will help 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 function at the residence of Dilan Ariyawansa in New York on September 24.

"Dr. Nonis resigned in protest over an alleged assault on him that took place during a private function 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 adamantly maintaining that he was assaulted by Mr. Gunawardana.
There is nothing heard from the Government as to who carried out the inquiry or of any report on what the inquiry had revealed.  
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.