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Last Updated : 2024-04-16 09:49:00
15 February 2018 10:55 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A Sri Lankan family who won the support of the Queenstown community in their fight against deportation have been given a reprieve and they will be allowed to stay in New Zealand for another year, the New Zealand Herald reported today.
Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker has been supporting the family, Dinesha Amarasinghe, Sam Wijerathne and their three boys Senath, Subath and Binath.
He said the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) ruled they could stay in New Zealand for the next year on humanitarian grounds, while their residence application was assessed.
"I called Dinesha and Sam this morning – they were both very emotional and so was I. Dinesha and Sam have worked incredibly hard to support their children and give them a bright future in New Zealand and this is the outcome they deserve," Walker said.
The family have lived in New Zealand for eight years but faced deportation after Dinesha's application for a work visa renewal was declined due to health issues. Their residency application, submitted in 2013, is on hold.
More than 400 people in the Queenstown community marched in November to support the family.
"It was incredibly humbling to see the way people came together to show compassion and an outpouring of love for a family that they respect and we want as part of the Queenstown community,"
“The Wijerathne family are respected members of the Queenstown community and an example of how migrant workers living, working, and contributing to our communities in positive ways are so valuable to New Zealand, and especially communities like Queenstown and Te Anau,"
"There was still a lot to do however. While today's result is absolutely fantastic, the solution is only temporary and the family still need to seek residency. We have won a battle, but not the war and I'll continue to support them through this process and keep the pressure on the Minister," Walker said.
LANKAN Thursday, 15 February 2018 12:35 PM
i had all the chances to get residence visa in the USA but chose to come to sri lanka. now i am doing well and living with my family, friends and importantly in our motherland with all rights while regretfully some of my colleagues in the USA struggling to meet their ends on a daily basis.
Vajira Thursday, 15 February 2018 12:36 PM
Come to Sri Lanka and work life is not that hard as they think from outside world anywhere in the world should work hard but Sri Lankan are not working hard in Sri lanka as they work in foreign countries. So stop blaming others and work hard to built Sri Lanka. via DM Android App
Lord Wolfstein Thursday, 15 February 2018 01:17 PM
New Zealand is one of the top countries where life is most livable. I understand anyone who does not want to return to this country which will never have a good standard of living for the normal worker.
Dini Thursday, 15 February 2018 01:29 PM
I agree with this comment 100%Nowhere is like this land - our own place. Ofcourse we have loads of local issues at home. But still this land is the place where we feel home, and where you have mental satisfaction. Lets build this country together.
Saman Thursday, 15 February 2018 05:58 PM
What ever means rated as 2nd class citizens. That is the real hidden facts.
BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 15 February 2018 12:44 PM
That is exemplary human behavior in New Zealand. How many Sinhalese can you find over here who are ready to march protesting and condemning the 1983 riots where many innocent Tamils lost their lives, properties burnt, looted and maimed?
Sheri Thursday, 15 February 2018 01:22 PM
Why don't you, as a tamil, lead the march with your horns then, when such an issue arises?
Cristo Thursday, 15 February 2018 12:49 PM
Why do so many Sri Lankans families act so surprised when they are asked to leave ...every country has a visa policy including Sri Lanka ...and if people breach the conditions they are asked to leave ...It is a level playing field for all
Banda Thursday, 15 February 2018 01:28 PM
Hey Cristo, What visa policy you are talking about. Who gave the whites the legal right to steal New Zealand from the local people ?
Jaliya Thursday, 15 February 2018 03:27 PM
Thanks God the whites arrived in NZ and made that place an industrialized nation.... if not it would have been like SLK and Banda could be supplying them with human flesh.
Sanath Thursday, 15 February 2018 05:05 PM
@Jaliya, come to NZ man you can buy a better car than a Nissan March ...
Selvan Thursday, 15 February 2018 06:11 PM
Jaliya,What has just happened in Florida is similar to frequent occurrences where ever whites live. They are “Nuts” and you seem to like them.
Sunil Thursday, 15 February 2018 01:26 PM
I very much appreciate the support extended to this family be the people of Queenstown, NZ.
akilaa Thursday, 15 February 2018 03:56 PM
Good example of how much NZ people care of their community members. Sadly we have very pathetic situation here in SL. We clearly see something we are lacking..
Asela Thursday, 15 February 2018 04:14 PM
This is how our people has been treated in foreign country, but here in this 2500 year old culture is the question? what they did to the displaced of Myanmar.
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