Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Chris Nonis, today confirmed that he has tendered his resignation, after he was assaulted by a Monitoring MP for the External Affairs Ministry (EAM).

Speaking to Ada Derana on the phone from London, Dr Nonis stated that, as widely reported in the media, he was unlawfully assaulted by the Monitoring MP in New York on the 24th of September.

“I tendered my resignation on the same day and returned to UK,” he said.

Also Dr. Nonis added that he eternally grateful for President Mahinda Rajapakse for the given opportunity to serve as the High Commissioner to UK. “I feel that I had done the very best I could for our country and our people with my fullest ability,”

He also added that his resignation was accepted by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (Oct. 03).

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday ordered investigations into the alleged incident as well the complaint against Nonis by the Secretary to the External Affairs Ministry, Kshenuka Seniviratne.

Dr. Nonis was reportedly involved in a heated argument with the Monitoring MP and the foreign secretary, at a function during the President’s New York visit, which had escalated into a scuffle.

Meanwhile External Affairs Ministry Secretary has also made a complaint against Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Britain Dr Chris Nonis, it was reported.

Dr. Nonis had commenced his tenure as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner for the UK in September 2011 while his term of office in Britain had been extended for another year till 2015.

He has served as the Deputy-Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society, London; Board Member of the Ramphal Centre for Commonwealth Policy Studies, UK; and Board Member of the Commonwealth Business Council.

He also heads the Sri Lankan Advisory Board of the British Asian Trust, one of the charities of Prince Charles.