A CITY resident who has been told he should leave the country says that he now sees Worcester as "home."

Hemaka Pathiranage, 27, has not been back to Sri Lanka since arriving in Worcester in September 2011 to study as a sports coach.

Mr Pathiranage was refused a working visa in July 2017 after he did not finish his masters course, due to his work as vice-president of the student union at the University of Worcester.

He challenged the decision but was given 28 days notice on Wednesday June 13 to make arrangements to leave the country. If he does not leave, he could be deported.

He said: "It would be difficult to leave Worcester now, I have been here for seven years and it does feel like home. Finding a job in Sri Lanka would not be difficult, but finding what I want to do would be.

"I am amazed by the support I have had, I did not expect to have a petition set up for me but Rachael has shared it everywhere.

"I am a level two cricket coach and I want to get to level 3 and to get ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) accreditation for that.

"I coach at two teams as well as blind cricket, I prefer to coach people aged between 16 and 19, my club has eight players under 18 in the first team squad of players, which is great.

"I really like Worcester, you can walk everywhere and there are some great places to take pictures like the Malvern Hills.

"It would cost a lot of money if I have to leave, I have seven years worth of stuff and two or three boxes full of memories, I do not want to have to throw those away.

"The friends I made at university are friends for life. I do not want to leave them behind."

His supporters say he is a great asset to the city, coaching a blind cricket team and volunteering in many roles.

Mr Pathiranage coaches junior, senior, women's and blind cricket on a voluntary basis and is the captain of city cricket club Old Elizabethans' first team.

Whilst at the university, he was a student ambassador, event ambassador, receptionist, green impact project supervisor, and university facilities assistant.

Mr Pathiranage would be able to appeal the decision from outside the country.

To view the petition, visit change.org/p/home-office-let-hem-stay-don-t-let-the-home-office-deport-this-valued-member-of-our-community