Sri Lankan family in Queenstown allowed to stay for one more year

Queenstown: A Sri Lankan family who won the support of the Queenstown community in their fight against deportation have been allowed to stay in New Zealand for another year, New Zealand Herald reports.

After eight years of living and working in New Zealand, Dinesha Amarasinghe, her husband Sam and their three sons Subath, 11, Binath, 10, and Senath, 8, were facing deportation on 21 November due to Amarasinghe, the primary visa holder, developing multiple sclerosis three years ago. Their residency application, submitted in 2013, is on hold.

Clutha-Southland MP and National Party representative Hamish Walker and the Queenstown community had come to the support of the family’s attempts to stay in New Zealand.

More than 400 people in the Queenstown community marched in November to support the family.

MP Walker said that 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.

However, MP Walker said there was still a lot to do. “While today’s result is absolutely fantastic, the solution is only temporary and the family still need to seek residency,” he said.

MP Walker said he will continue to support them through this process and keep the pressure on the Minister.