Savvy Diplomat Sumith Nakandala- Sri Lanka’s new Deputy High Commissioner in the United Kingdom

A. Sumith Nakandala has taken duties as Sri Lanka’s new Deputy High Commissioner in the United Kingdom. He has arrived in London this week succeeding to Sudantha Ganegamaarachchi, his erstwhile schoolmate. Ambassador A. Sumith Nakandala
During the 15th SAAARC Summit, Nakandala was Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Nepal and as the summit arrangements hit a snag regarding the attendance of the Head of State of Nepal, it was Nakanadala’s diplomacy that saved the summit from an impending disaster. During those days Nepal was undergoing a very critical transformation and there were anxious movements with SAARC organizers back in
Colombo, as to whether the Head of State of Nepal would be able to attend the Summit.
Full credits goes to the savvy Sri Lankan Diplomat Sumith Nakandala who managed the situation by convincing the rival political forces in Kathmandu and organized the visit of the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to participate in the Summit. In reality, a Sri Lankan Diplomat told Asian Tribune that Nakandala saved SAARC from a grave disaster.
Ambassador Nakandala’s stock rose high after the SAARC summit, anyhow he accepted the posting as a Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
He is from the 1988 Sri Lanka Foreign Service batch. Before joining the Foreign Service, the Agricultural Science degree holder from the Peradeniya University started his career as an Agricultural Service Research Officer, at Sita Eliya, and later as Environmental Officer, at the central environmental office.
After joining Sri Lanka Foreign Service, he was first posted as Second Secretary to Maldives from 1990 to 1993 December, followed by a post- graduation studies on International Relations and Development in Netherlands, in 1994.
On his return to Sri Lanka, he was posted and he served as Deputy Director, South Asia, from 1995 to 1996.
In 1996, he was posted as First Secretary and later as Counselor at the Sri Lanka’s High Commission in New Delhi. He served in New Delhi until February 2000. On his return to Sri Lanka, he was given the responsibility of acting Director Consular Affairs and Director Technical Cooperation.
In October 2001, he was posted to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, as Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner. In Chennai he won the hearts and minds of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees languishing in Tamil Nadu. As a Deputy High Commissioner, he did everything possible to help the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. While he was serving in Chennai, he received his rank as Ambassador and in 2006 July, he was posted as Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom of Nepal.
Nakandala had his early education at the Gampaha Bandaranaiyake Maha Vidyalaya. Sudantha Ganegamaarachchi, who was his predecessor and presently the Chief of Protocol, was two years senior to him at this school.
From his school in Gampaha, he entered the Peradeniya University in 1981 and passed out as an Agricultural Science Graduate in 1985. (News- Asian Tribune)