A POPULAR city resident has accepted defeat in his battle to remain in Worcester.

Hemaka Pathiranage, 27, has been told that the Home Office will not change its decision to refuse him a working visa even though Worcester MP Robin Walker has discussed his case with home secretary Sajid Javid.

Mr Pathiranage, 27, has not been back to Sri Lanka since arriving in the city in September 2011 to study as a sports coach but must now return by July 11.

A petition demanding he be allowed to stay was set up for the popular cricket captain of Old Elizabethans first team, reaching nearly 3,500 signatures.

He said: “It is sad but there are lots of people in my position. I think it needs to be looked at, there are a lot of deserving people not allowed to stay here, but it is only doctors and office workers that find it easy to meet the criteria. I have been told by Robin Walker that as the Home Office has made a decision, they will not look at it again.

“I do not think I will appeal, once I am back home I am in the same position as other applicants and it will take four or five years to become a manager and be allowed back.”

Mr Pathiranage came to Worcester on a student visa but it was withdrawn after he did not finish his masters course, which he says was due to his work as vice-president of the student union at the University of Worcester.

He was subsequently refused a working visa in July 2017. He challenged the decision but was given 28 days notice to leave the country earlier this month.

Mr Pathiranage coaches junior, senior, women’s and blind cricket on a voluntary basis. The Home Office says he can appeal the decision from Sri Lanka.