The students of the Richmond College, Galle and St. Francis De Sales School, New Delhi joined hands to welcome each other as part of an Educational Exchange Programme. It provided an opportunity for the students to establish friendships and understand each other’s culture better – the many similarities and the subtle differences between Indian and Sri Lankan way of life. The beginning was made when 10 students and 3 teachers from Richmond College, Galle visited St. Francis De Sales Senior Secondary School in Janakpuri, New Delhi from 27th April - May 5, 2017. The visiting Sri Lankan students were hosted by families of the participating students of St. Francis School and stayed with them as a family member for the entire duration of the visit. The host school arranged site seeing trips in Delhi & Agra for the visitors and held combined Workshop, Sports competitions and Cultural functions with them at the school. The educational and cultural exchange partnership was carried forward with the return visit of 10 students and 3 teachers (including the Principal Rev. Fr. Anil George) of St. Francis De Sales School to Richmond College, Galle, Sri Lanka from 27th September - October 7, 2017. The visiting students and teachers were given a warm welcome by Mr. Sampat Weragoda , Principal and the students of Richmond College, Galle. The visiting students from India too were hosted by the families of the participating students of Richmond College and stayed with them as part of their extended family. The Richmond College arranged site seeing visits to Colombo, Kandy, Hikkaduwa and the National Parks at Yala, Udawalawa and Boondala for the Indian students and also arranged Combined Workshop, Sports competitions and Cultural functions with them at the school in Galle. On October 6, 2017, Shri Prem Nair, the Consul General of India in Hambantota, hosted a dinner for the students and the teachers of the two schools of the Exchange programme to share their experience of the visits with him and suggest improvements/ideas for enhancing the quality of interaction. Mr. Sampat Wergaoda, Principal of Richmond College was also present on the occasion. The educational exchange programme between schools of Sri Lanka and India offers a unique opportunity to the students to gain intimate knowledge of each other’s culture by living with the students’families and enjoying the cultural and recreational excursions, sporting and cultural activities organized in the host schools and institutions.
