The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India is the Sri Lankan envoy to India. Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations typically exchange High Commissioners, rather than Ambassadors. Though there are a few technical differences (for instance, whereas Ambassadors present their diplomatic credentials to the host country's head of state, High Commissioners are accredited to the head of government), they are in practice one and the same office.
Prior to the establishment of formal diplomatic ties with India after Ceylon gained independence in 1948, the Government of British Ceylon maintained an official representative to the British Raj in India from 1942 to 1948. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India is concurrently accredited as Ambassador to both Bhutan and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka also maintains two Consuls-Generals in Chennai and Mumbai.
Representatives of the Government of Ceylon RepresentativeStart of TermEnd of TermSir Baron Jayathilake19421945Sir Tikiri Bandara Panabokke Adigar19451946M.W.H de Silva19471948
High Commissioners High CommissionerStart of TermEnd of TermSir Arunachalam Mahadeva, 19481950C. Coomaraswamy19501955Sir Edwin Wijeratne19551957Sir Richard Aluwihare, , CBE19571963Shirley Amerasinghe19631966Siri Perera19671969N. Q. Dias19701972Justin Siriwardena19741977Arthur Basnayake19771978T.B.Panabokke19781982Bernard Tilakaratna19821989Dr Stanley Kalpage19891991Dr Neville Kanakeratne19911994Mangala Moonesinghe19952000Dr Senake Bandaranayake20002002Mangala Moonesinghe20022005C. R. Jaysinghe20052009Prasad Kariyawasam2009 2014Sudarshana Senavirathne20142015Esala Weerakoon 20152018Austin Fernando 20182020Milinda Moragoda 20202023Kshenuka Senewiratne20232025Mahishini Colonne2025present
See also List of heads of missions from Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka, Chennai
References The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India