British High Commissioner visits the Vanni

British High Commissioner, John Rankin, made an official visit to the Vanni on 23 June, 2011.

British High Commissioner, John Rankin, hands over cricket equipment to the Vice Captain of the cricket team of the Mullaitivu Hindu Tamil Vidyalayam

British High Commissioner, John Rankin, with the Chief Priest of the Vattappalai Amman Temple

On the second day, the High Commissioner visited the Mullaitivu Hindu Tamil Vidyalayam, where he spent some time with the students and gave the cricket team – the reigning district champions – new cricket equipment to help them improve their game. He also paid his respects at the Vattappalai Amman Temple to the Chief Priest, the Ven. Kurukkal Krishna Bawan and met the Assistant Government Agent for Mullaitivu.

Commenting on his visit, the High Commissioner said:

“Visiting the Vanni has been a useful experience for me; seeing the progress and the continuing challenge of moving forward together. We welcome that many people, formerly displaced, have been able to return to the region and look forward to when they are all able to move into permanent homes. We also look forward to the normalisation of civilian life in the region.

Visiting the students of the Mullaitivu Hindu Tamil Vidyalayam was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this experience and I am delighted that the British High Commission was able to gift them cricket equipment, to help them improve their already fine grasp of the game. I also enjoyed meeting the Shakthi forum theatre group founded and trained by the British Council, who have performed around Sri Lanka and in Geneva and London, highlighting significant issues to their audiences.”

The rest of his visit included paying his respects at the Ruwanweliseya stupa in Anuradhapura.