Sunday Times 2
Changing of the Guard at UK’s Friends of Sri Lanka Association
View(s):There has been a ‘Change of Guard’ at the helm of the Friends of Sri Lanka Association (FoSLA) in the United Kingdom with former British High Commissioner to Colombo Sir Dominick Chilcott taking over the Chair after a record-breaking 15 years by Sir Peter Heap who has decided to step down.
FoSLA, which was founded by then Foreign Minister A C S Hameed in 1987 has been promoting goodwill and friendship between Sri Lanka and the UK ever since.
At the annual general meeting of FoSLA held at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, newly appointed High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera thanked Sir Peter Heap for his ‘sure hand of experience and the warmth of true friendship’ and referred to Sir Peter’s article to the Guardian newspaper calling upon Britain not to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka some years back.
Sir Peter Heap praised FoSLA for its apolitical balanced role in promoting links between Sri Lanka and the UK; he said it organised ‘ high quality events’ over the years.
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- New Chair: Sir Dominick Chilcott
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- Sir Peter Heap with Lord Michael Naseby
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- High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera at FoSLA’s annual general meeting
Sir Dominick Chilcott said he was stepping into some ‘big shoes’ and spoke of working with the growing number of FoSLA members. He was UK’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka from 2006-7 and has also served as ambassador in Iran, Ireland and Turkey.
One-time UK High Commissioner Linda Duffield is the Vice Chair of FoSLA with Vimal Perera, Secretary and Kulzum Mohinadeen, Treasurer.
Former High Commissioners David Thatham and Sir John Field have held the Chair of FoSLA earlier.