Vernon Mendis

Q: When did Vernon Mendis die?

Vernon Mendis died on June 23, 2010.

Q: How old was Vernon Mendis when they died?

Vernon Mendis was 84 years old at the time of death.

Q: When was Vernon Mendis born?

Vernon Mendis was born on December 5, 1925.

Born: December 5, 1925
Died: June 23, 2010
Age: 84 years

Deaths in 2010 June 2010 Died on June 23 Who Died Today Verified Sep 29, 2026

About Vernon Mendis

Vernon Mendis, 84, Sri Lankan diplomat.

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Full Biography

Deshamanya Vernon Loraine Benjamin Mendis (5 December 1925 – 23 June 2010) was a prominent Sri Lankan diplomat, who served as the United Nations' Special Envoy to the Middle East. He is referred to as the Sri Lanka's Father of Diplomacy due to his role in formation of the country's diplomatic service and has served as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Canada; Ambassador to France, Cuba and Secretary General of the Non Aligned Movement.

Education

Vernon Mendis was educated at Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa. and the Royal College Colombo. He then pursued further studies at the University of Ceylon, where he studied history gaining a Bachelor of Arts (Second Upper Honours in History). His classmate at Royal College Colombo was Hon. Justice Christopher Weeramantry who became the Vice-President of the International Court of Justice. He would later gain a Master of Philosophy from School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Diplomatic career

Mendis was in the first batch of cadets who were taken into the newly formed Ceylon Overseas Service in 1949 through a highly competitive examination and selection process and later given permanent appointment by Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. His first placement was as counselor in Ceylon's embassy in Washington, D.C., where Sir Claude Corea was ambassador. After Washington he was sent to Tokyo to the newly established mission there before its first ambassador, Sir Susantha de Fonseka arrived. He then served in Ceylon's missions in Paris as Chargé d'affaires (1953–1955) and Moscow (1955–1960) where G.P. Malalasekera was the ambassador. He was recalled to Ceylon in 1960 to be appointed Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of Defense and External Affairs at the age of 35, one of the youngest to hold that position. Next he was made deputy high commissioner for Ceylon in London and later in New Delhi.

In 1965 he was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. In 1970 he was recalled to Colombo, where he was Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, during which time he played a major role in the formulation of foreign policy of Sri Lanka which had become a republic in 1972. A major milestone of his career was in 1976 when he functioned as the Secretary General of the Non Aligned Movement Summit in Colombo, where he had to chair sessions in the presence of some of the greatest leaders at the time, such as Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Yugoslavian Premier Marshal Josip Broz Tito, Cuban President Fidel Castro. Soon after he was appointed the high commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canada with concurrent accreditation to Cuba. When his tenure as high commissioner ended in 1980 he retired from the Sri Lanka Overseas Service.

United Nations Special Envoy to the Middle East

Soon after leaving the foreign Service he took up a posting with the United Nations as Special Envoy in the Middle East based in Cairo, serving as the Regional Director of UNESCO. There he was in charge of looking after the interests of the United Nations in the Gulf where Egypt was making waves in its foreign policy. He had to deal with some of the issues in relation to Egypt's Cultural Treasures on behalf of the UNESCO and with Egypt's relations with Sudan.

Later life

Returning to Sri Lanka after his work in the UN, he served as the chairman of the Telecom Board for three years. He was also served as a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington and was the funding Director-General of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute in Colombo.

Honours

Awarded the title of Deshamanya by the Sri Lankan Government

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16 Verified Trivia Questions About Vernon Mendis

Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Vernon Mendis's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.

1.After retiring from the Sri Lanka Overseas Service in 1980, what role did Vernon Mendis take at the United Nations?
- A.Ambassador to Egypt
- B.Special Envoy to the Middle EastCorrect
- C.Cultural Advisor to Sudan
- D.Secretary General
He took a posting as the United Nations' Special Envoy in the Middle East based in Cairo.
Source: United Nations Special Envoy section
2.Which title was awarded to Vernon Mendis by the Sri Lankan Government?
- A.Father of State
- B.Diplomat Laureate
- C.DeshamanyaCorrect
- D.Knight Bachelor
The biography notes that Vernon Mendis was awarded the title of Deshamanya.
Source: honours section
3.What position did Vernon Mendis hold after returning to Sri Lanka from his UN work?
- A.President of the University of Ceylon
- B.Chief of Protocol
- C.Minister of Foreign Affairs
- D.Chairman of the Telecom BoardCorrect
He served as the chairman of the Telecom Board for three years after returning to Sri Lanka.
Source: later life section
4.What specific institution did Vernon Mendis serve as the funding Director-General of in Colombo?
- A.School of Oriental and African Studies
- B.United States Institute of Peace
- C.Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training InstituteCorrect
- D.Royal College Diplomatic Academy
Vernon Mendis was the funding Director-General of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.
Source: later life section
5.In which city did Vernon Mendis serve as a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace?
- A.New Delhi
- B.London
- C.WashingtonCorrect
- D.Cairo
The text states he was a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.
Source: later life section
6.When did Vernon Mendis pass away?
- A.5 December 2010
- B.23 July 2009
- C.5 June 2010
- D.23 June 2010Correct
The biography lists his death date as 23 June 2010.
Source: introduction
7.Vernon Mendis is referred to as what by his peers and in historical records?
- A.The Founder of the Foreign Service
- B.The Architect of the Republic
- C.The Doyen of the United Nations
- D.Sri Lanka's Father of DiplomacyCorrect
He is referred to as Sri Lanka's Father of Diplomacy due to his role in the formation of the country's diplomatic service.
Source: introduction
8.On which date was Vernon Mendis born?
- A.25 December 1925
- B.5 December 1925Correct
- C.15 December 1925
- D.5 November 1925
The text states his birth date as 5 December 1925.
Source: introduction
9.Which educational institution did Vernon Mendis attend for his secondary education alongside Christopher Weeramantry?
- A.Prince of Wales' College
- B.University of London
- C.University of Ceylon
- D.Royal College ColomboCorrect
Vernon Mendis attended the Royal College Colombo where Christopher Weeramantry was his classmate.
Source: education section
10.What degree did Vernon Mendis earn from the University of Ceylon?
- A.Bachelor of Science in Political Science
- B.Doctor of Philosophy in Diplomacy
- C.Bachelor of Arts in HistoryCorrect
- D.Master of Philosophy in History
Vernon Mendis gained a Bachelor of Arts with Second Upper Honours in History from the University of Ceylon.
Source: education section
11.In what year did Vernon Mendis join the Ceylon Overseas Service?
- A.1965
- B.1960
- C.1953
- D.1949Correct
Vernon Mendis was in the first batch of cadets taken into the Ceylon Overseas Service in 1949.
Source: diplomatic career section
12.What was the first diplomatic placement held by Vernon Mendis?
- A.Counselor in Washington, D.C.Correct
- B.Deputy High Commissioner in London
- C.Chargé d'affaires in Paris
- D.Ambassador to France
His first placement was as a counselor in the Ceylon embassy in Washington, D.C.
Source: diplomatic career section
13.How old was Vernon Mendis when he was appointed Chief of Protocol?
- A.40
- B.30
- C.45
- D.35Correct
Vernon Mendis was appointed Chief of Protocol in 1960 at the age of 35.
Source: diplomatic career section
14.Vernon Mendis served as the Secretary General of the Non Aligned Movement Summit held in which city?
- A.New Delhi
- B.London
- C.Cairo
- D.ColomboCorrect
He functioned as the Secretary General of the Non Aligned Movement Summit in Colombo in 1976.
Source: diplomatic career section
15.Which world leader did Vernon Mendis chair sessions for during the 1976 Non Aligned Movement Summit?
- A.Fidel CastroCorrect
- B.Sirimavo Bandaranaike
- C.G.P. Malalasekera
- D.D. S. Senanayake
Vernon Mendis chaired sessions in the presence of leaders including Fidel Castro.
Source: diplomatic career section
16.What is the full name of Vernon Mendis as provided in the text?
- A.Deshamanya Vernon Loraine Benjamin MendisCorrect
- B.Deshamanya Vernon Lawrence Basil Mendis
- C.Deshamanya Vernon Leonard Benjamin Mendis
- D.Deshamanya Vernon Leslie Brian Mendis
The biography explicitly identifies him as Deshamanya Vernon Loraine Benjamin Mendis.
Source: introduction