10th December 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Today is International Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is the importance of civil society, with the hashtag #365 signifying what civil society does for us all, day in, day out. It’s been a difficult few months in Sri Lanka and the Maldives for civil society, so I wanted to use this blog to celebrate […]
25th November 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
I wanted to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by partnering with others who feel as strongly. The reaction was so positive that I’ve ended up with two blogs and a campaign. Kofi Annnan described violence against women as a pandemic. Globally, one in three women will have experienced some […]
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25th November 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Kofi Annnan described violence against women as a pandemic. Globally, one in three women will have experienced some form of violence. In some countries, that increases to 70%. Problems in both the UK and Sri Lanka are well documented – violence against women isn’t an issue of geography, culture or wealth. To mark the International […]
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11th November 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Over the course of this summer, 888,246 ceramic poppies have progressively filled the Tower of London’s moat. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the Great War of 1914-1918. In total, over nine million died, over 20 million were wounded and over seven million were reported mission in action during those four years – […]
24th October 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
The Chevening Scholarship programme celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year. It’s a universally popular programme, offering scholarships for post-graduate study in the UK to outstanding individuals who have the capacity to be leaders in their chosen areas of work. So it’s great news that the anniversary is being celebrated by an increase in the […]
14th October 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Last Friday was World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organisation estimates that 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem. In the UK, 90% of prisoners have some kind of mental health issue, as do 10% of children. Sri Lanka has the fourth highest per capita suicide rate in the world. Globally, one […]
30th September 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
A couple of weeks ago, I went on an official trip to the East. Starting in Arugam Bay, we drove North all the way to Trincomalee, through Pottuvil, Oluvil, Kalmunai and Batticaloa. I met with government and political interlocutors, humanitarian workers and civil society organisations, and visited temples, beaches and hospitals. There was nothing controversial […]
16th September 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Most ex-pats live a very privileged life in Sri Lanka, so I’m always grateful to those of my colleagues who make it easy for us to help some of the people who live so close, but are so much less fortunate. Last Saturday, the British High Commission hosted a football tournament to raise funds for […]
21st August 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Education has been on my mind recently. On a personal level, my daughters are settling into school and nursery. But the last ten days in the office have also been a crash course in the links between Sri Lankan and UK educational establishments, and an opportunity to chat to an inspiring mix of past, present […]
21st July 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka
I am delighted to be taking over Robbie’s mantle as Deputy High Commissioner and British High Commission blogger-in-chief! Like him, I’ll aim to offer personal reflections from my ringside seat on the rich and varied UK/Sri Lankan relationship. Please do comment, whether it’s to agree with me or not. My first week here was dominated […]