Let them stay: Queenstown rallies behind Sri Lankan family

Dinesha Amarasinghe with husband Sam Wijerathne (left) and Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker. Photo / Paul Taylor

Mother of three Dinesha Amarasinghe openly sobbed as she was wheeled down sunny Queenstown streets yesterday afternoon, surrounded by her family.

Behind them, about 400 people marched to show their support for the Sri Lankan Queenstowners, who face deportation.

"It means so much to me," she said. "Now I know we are not alone."

Amarasinghe, her husband, Sam Wijerathne, and sons Subath, 11, Binath, 10, and Senath, 8, have lived in New Zealand since 2010.

The 42-year-old applied for permanent residency for her and her family in April 2013 under the skilled migrant category, but she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in May 2015 and her application was denied.

Their work visas were cancelled last month and they were ordered to leave New Zealand.

Since then, they have received an avalanche of community support, particularly from Queenstown Primary School, where the boys are popular and successful pupils.

A humanitarian appeal has been lodged with the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, which means they can remain temporarily while it is heard, and more than $25,000 has been raised to pay medical bills and support them while they cannot work.

Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker, who organised yesterday's march, has written to Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway asking him to make an exception to policy.

"I was hoping for 40 or 50 people," Walker said. "When we left their house we had probably 40 people, which I was reasonably chuffed with. Then as we came around the corner ... there were hundreds waiting for them. It shows how much the community values this family.

"I had a lady tell me on Thursday they had a bike day at the local school and one of the boys lent his bike to another boy and taught him how to ride because he didn't have his own bike. Another one of the boys teaches the other pupils how to play cricket.

"These are incredible kids, winning spelling bees, everything."

The children have been in Queenstown for most of their lives.

The marchers chanted "let them stay" and one banner simply read "compassion".

Marcher Thvshe Ulhas, 24, spoke to the tearful Amarasinghe when the march reached its destination in Village Green.

"I was telling her it's a bad time but she has to be strong; it is going to happen. The support is amazing. I'm very happy to see people still have compassion for others."

Susan McIntyre, who teaches two of the boys, was another marcher.

"We're all in support of the family," she said. "The boys are fantastic at school. This is a humble, hard-working family."