Susantha De Alwis
Encyclopedia
Susantha De Alwis, SLOS
( - December 22, 2008) was a Sri Lanka
n diplomat
, who was the former Sri Lankan Ambassador
to the United States, Japan, South Korea and Permanent Representative
to United Nations (Geneva).
Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
where he won many prizes including the Governor's Scholarship, De Abrew Memorial Scholarship, Principal's Distinctions Prize and the Best Speaker's Prize. He entered the University of Ceylon
, Peradeniya
, where he was the President of the Law Society and General Secretary, Arunachalam Hall.After graduating with a LLB degree, he joined the Ceylon Overseas Service. Later he gained a scholarship to the University of Oxford
to read for a BLitt degree in International Laws at Keble College, Oxford
.
During his career in the foreign service De Alwis has served as Assistant High Commissioner for Ceylon in Madras (1962-66); Chargé d'Affaires of the Ceylon's Embassy in Indonesia; First Secretary of Ceylon's Embassy in Washington DC (1970-74). In 1974 he was appointed as Sri Lankan Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva
, a post he held till 1978. From 1980 to 1983 he served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan and South Korea and Ambassador for Sri Lanka in the United States from 1986 to 1992.
His brothers Dunstan De Alwis was a lawyer and President's Counsel
and Dr Stanmore De Alwis a Thoracic Surgeon. Of his sisters Dr Thelma Gunawardene was the former Director of the Colombo National Museum
and Dr Daisy Jayawickrema former Medical Officer, CPC. He was married to Achala and had two daughters, Chamini, Darshini and a son Ruvan. He died at his home in Bambalapitiya
on 22 December 2008.
Sri Lanka Overseas Service
The Sri Lanka Overseas Service which is most commonly referred to as the Sri Lanka Foreign Service is the foreign service of Sri Lanka. It is the body of career diplomats of Sri Lanka...
( - December 22, 2008) was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, who was the former Sri Lankan Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States, Japan, South Korea and Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to United Nations (Geneva).
Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
where he won many prizes including the Governor's Scholarship, De Abrew Memorial Scholarship, Principal's Distinctions Prize and the Best Speaker's Prize. He entered the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
, Peradeniya
Peradeniya
Peradeniya is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 main road connecting Kandy and Colombo, just a few kilometres west of Kandy....
, where he was the President of the Law Society and General Secretary, Arunachalam Hall.After graduating with a LLB degree, he joined the Ceylon Overseas Service. Later he gained a scholarship to the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
to read for a BLitt degree in International Laws at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
.
During his career in the foreign service De Alwis has served as Assistant High Commissioner for Ceylon in Madras (1962-66); Chargé d'Affaires of the Ceylon's Embassy in Indonesia; First Secretary of Ceylon's Embassy in Washington DC (1970-74). In 1974 he was appointed as Sri Lankan Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
, a post he held till 1978. From 1980 to 1983 he served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan and South Korea and Ambassador for Sri Lanka in the United States from 1986 to 1992.
His brothers Dunstan De Alwis was a lawyer and President's Counsel
President's Counsel (Sri Lanka)
President's Counsel is a professional rank, as their status is conferred by the president, recognised by the courts and wear silk gowns of a special design...
and Dr Stanmore De Alwis a Thoracic Surgeon. Of his sisters Dr Thelma Gunawardene was the former Director of the Colombo National Museum
Colombo National Museum
National Museum of Colombo, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum is one of two museums in Colombo. It is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. Its is maintained by the Department of National Museum of the central government...
and Dr Daisy Jayawickrema former Medical Officer, CPC. He was married to Achala and had two daughters, Chamini, Darshini and a son Ruvan. He died at his home in Bambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The area, numbered Colombo 4, spans about one and a half kilometres of the Galle Road in Colombo. The west of the city is bordered by the Indian Ocean while to the east Havelock Town town borders it....
on 22 December 2008.