January, 5, 2022
Kirkoswald Estate in Hatton welcomed the Queen’s Baton today (5th January), joining the traditional celebration which precedes the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Kirkoswald Estate, managed by Madulsima Plantations PLC a member of Melsta Corp Group, was one of the several locations in Sri Lanka selected to be a part of the Queen’s Baton Relay during its tour across the island. Sri Lanka was the 25th destination out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories to host the Queen’s Baton in a symbolic celebration which links the Commonwealth communities leading up to the Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton, which was previously on display at Victoria Dam in Digana, was warmly welcomed by a special parade organised by the students of Kirkoswald No. 1 Tamil Vidyalam and Kirkoswald No. 2 Tamil Vidyalayam. The event featured several cultural performances and saw the participation of representatives from the Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka, including the President of the Association, Suresh Subramaniam. Representatives of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) and employees of Kirkoswald Estate were also present for the occasion.
“The Queen’s Baton symbolises the individuality in humanity and celebrates bringing people from diverse backgrounds together. We are honoured to be selected as one of the destinations to welcome the Queen’s Baton, as well as to represent the rich heritage of the Ceylon Tea industry. We thank the organisers and wish to recognize their support in hosting this historic event successfully,” CEO of Madulsima Plantations PLC, Mohan Fernando said.
As part of the celebration, employees were given the opportunity to carry the Queen’s Baton across Kirkoswald Estate in a show of solidarity with and support of the Commonwealth Games. Thereafter invitees and students were given a factory tour to showcase the history of Ceylon Tea.
The 140,000-kilometre journey of the Queen's Baton began on the 7th of October 2021, at a special event at Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty the Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton, signifying the start of the 294-day Relay covering 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth. As it travels, the Baton aims to bring people together and host moments of celebration ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
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