Vernon Mendis
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Deshamanya Vernon Mendis |
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| 12th Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United Kingdom | |
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In office 1975–1977 |
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| Preceded by | Tilak Goonaratne |
| Succeeded by | Noel Wimalasena |
| Sri Lankan Ambassador to Canada | |
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In office December 1977 – 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Thambiah |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Vandergert |
| Sri Lankan Ambassador to France | |
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In office ? – ? |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 December 1925 British Ceylon |
| Died | 23 June 2010 (aged 84) |
| Spouse(s) | Padma Mendis |
| Children | Harish & Dayalini |
| Alma mater | University of Ceylon |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Deshamanya Dr Vernon Loraine Benjamin Mendis (5 December 1925 – 23 June 2010) was a prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, who served as the United Nations' Special Envoy to the Middle East. He is referred to as the Sri Lanka's Father of Diplomacy due to his role in formation of the country's diplomatic service and has served as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Canada; Ambassador to France, Cuba and Secretary General of the Non Aligned Movement.
Dr Vernon Mendis was educated at Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa. and the Royal College Colombo. He then pursued further studies at the University of Ceylon, where he studied history gaining a Bachelor of Arts (Second Upper Honours in History). His classmate at Royal College Colombo was Hon. Justice Christopher Weeramantry who became the Vice-President of the International Court of Justice. He would later gain a Master of Philosophy from School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.
Dr Mendis was in the first batch of cadets who were taken into the newly formed Ceylon Overseas Service in 1949 through a highly competitive examination and selection process and later given permanent appointment by Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. His first placement was as counselor in Ceylon's embassy in Washington, D.C., where Sir Claude Corea was ambassador. After Washington he was sent to Tokyo to the newly established mission there before its first ambassador, Sir Susantha de Fonseka arrived. He then served in Ceylon's missions in Paris as Chargé d'affaires (1953–1955) and Moscow (1955–1960) where Dr.G.P. Malalasekera was the ambassador. He was recalled to Ceylon in 1960 to be appointed as Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of Defense and External Affairs at the age of 35, one of the youngest to hold that position. Next he was made deputy high commissioner for Ceylon in London and later in New Delhi.
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