James Dauris has been appointed British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Maldives in succession to John Rankin, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.
Mr Dauris joined the FCO in 1995 and served most recently as British Ambassador to Peru for four years. During his career with the Foreign Office he has worked in London on South Asian, European Union and other issues and has served overseas in Russia and in Colombia. Mr Dauris worked as a solicitor in the City for a number of years before joining the FCO.
On his appointment as British High Commissioner to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr Dauris said:
“I am really pleased to have been appointed to be the United Kingdom’s next High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Our two countries enjoy and benefit from a long and broad relationship. We see this in our close people to people, trade, investment, education, sporting, tourism and other links. I am excited about taking our relationship forward at an important time and to working with Sri Lanka on issues that matter to both our countries. And I am looking forward to working with the many British companies that are doing business and investing in this growing South Asian market.”
