{"id":52552,"date":"2020-11-12T11:19:42","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T11:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=52552"},"modified":"2020-11-12T11:24:27","modified_gmt":"2020-11-12T11:24:27","slug":"sri-lankan-family-living-in-kempsey-facing-deportation-following-fathers-death-by-lucy-barbour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/sri-lankan-family-living-in-kempsey-facing-deportation-following-fathers-death-by-lucy-barbour\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lankan family living in Kempsey facing deportation following father’s death \u2013 by Lucy Barbour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sri Lankan family living in Kempsey facing deportation following father’s death \u2013 by\u00a0Lucy Barbour<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n

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\"Sri<\/p>\n

Source: ABC News<\/a><\/p>\n

Florence Udawatta is losing sleep and suffering from heart palpitations from worrying.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Key points:<\/span><\/h2>\n
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  • After her husband died, Florence Udawatta and her children were given a month to appeal or leave the country<\/span><\/li>\n
  • They volunteer in the community and eldest son Ruvish is vice captain of his school<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The Immigration Department denied them protection visas, arguing they’re unlikely to be persecuted in Sri Lanka<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

    She and her children Ruvish, Jeniffer and Duane are facing the prospect of removal from the community they have come to love and which has grown to love them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Their regional town of Kempsey in New South Wales is rallying, demanding the Federal Government lets them stay.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The family’s conundrum is rare. They are facing deportation because of a tragic death that could not have been prevented.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ms Udawatta moved to Kempsey in 2016 to join her husband Raj, who migrated from Sri Lanka on a 457 temporary work visa two years earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"Sri<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>

    \nRaj Udawatta migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka on a temporary work visa.(Supplied: Florence Udawatta)<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    He was the primary visa holder for the family and soon became well-liked in the community. As a mechanic, he often helped fix people’s cars on weekends and after hours at no extra cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once reunited, the family threw themselves into community life and became devoted members of the Christian outreach church.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"Sri<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>
    Florence Udawatta packs and delivers food to people in need.(ABC Rural: Lucy Barbour)<\/cite><\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Each week, Ms Udawatta packs food parcels and delivers them to the homeless, while her 17-year-old son, Ruvish, is a youth group leader and has just been elected vice-captain of his school.<\/span><\/p>\n

    His goal is to study medicine and work as a doctor in a regional area.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Hirushi, his older sister, is training to become a chef.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"Sri<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>
    Ruvish Udawatta dreams of becoming a rural doctor.(ABC Rural: Lucy Barbour)<\/cite><\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Their siblings, eight-year-old Jeniffer and seven-year-old Duane pray every morning before jumping on the school bus with beaming smiles.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Family friend and church pastor Moira Hodgekiss said the Udawattas were an immigration “success” story.<\/span><\/p>\n