List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka

The following persons have served as British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, previously known as Ceylon. Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations typically exchange High Commissioners rather than Ambassadors. Though there are a few technical differences, they are in practice one and the same office. Since 1965 when the Maldives were granted independence from the United Kingdom, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has doubled as the (non-resident) British High Commissioner to the Maldives (from 1982 to 2016, and since 1 February 2020) and as the British Ambassador to the Maldives (1965 to 1982, and October 2016 to 2020).^[1]

British High Commissioners to the Dominion of Ceylon

1948–1951: Sir Walter Hankinson KCMG OBE MC^[2]
1951–1957: Sir Cecil Syers KCMG CVO^[3]
1957–1962: Sir Alexander Morley KCMG CBE^[4]
1962–1966: Sir Michael Walker GCMG^[5]
1966–1969: Sir Stanley Tomlinson KCMG^[6]
1969–1972: Sir Angus Mackintosh KCVO CMG^[7]

British High Commissioners to Sri Lanka

1972–1975: Sir Harold Smedley KCMG MBE^[8]
1976–1979: David Aiers CMG^[9]
1979–1984: Sir John Nicholas KCVO CMG^[10]
1984–1987: John Stewart CMG OBE^[11]
1987–1991: David Gladstone CMG^[12]
1991–1996: John Field CMG^[13]
1996–1999: David Tatham CMG^[14]
1999–2002: Linda Duffield CMG^[15]
2002–2006: Stephen Evans CMG OBE^[16]
2006–2008: Dominick Chilcott CMG^[17]
2008–2011: Peter Hayes^[18]
2011–2015: John Rankin^[19]
2015–2019: James Dauris^[20]

2019–present^[update]: Sarah Hulton^[21]

References

^ Colin Mackie (2011). "BRITISH AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS: 1880-2010" (PDF) (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1984). "HANKINSON, Sir Walter Crossfield". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1981). "SYERS, Sir Cecil George Lewis". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1971). "MORLEY, Sir Alexander". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2001). "WALKER, Sir (Charles) Michael". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1994). "TOMLINSON, Sir (Frank) Stanley". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1986). "MacKINTOSH, Sir Angus (MacKay)". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2004). "SMEDLEY, Sir Harold". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1983). "AIERS, David Pascoe". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "NICHOLAS, Sir John (William)". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (1995). "STEWART, John Anthony Benedict". Who Was Who, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "GLADSTONE, David Arthur Steuart". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "FIELD, (Edward) John". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "TATHAM, David Everard". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "DUFFIELD, Linda Joy". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "EVANS, Stephen Nicholas". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "CHILCOTT, Dominick John". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "HAYES, Dr Peter Richard". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ A & C Black (2012). "RANKIN, John James". Who's Who 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ "Dauris, James". Gov.uk. 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
^ "Sarah Hulton, OBE". The Government of the United Kingdom. gov.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2019.