“The people of Queenstown showed their compassion as they took to the streets in support of a family facing deportation to Sri Lanka. After eight years in New Zealand Dinesha Amarasinghe, her husband Sam Wijerathne and their three sons have been told they are to be deported to their birth country as Dinesha, the primary visa holder, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago. A humanitarian appeal has been lodged but the family’s future remains uncertain,” the Stuff reported.

Sam Wijerathne pushes his wife Dinesha Amarasinghe as they march through the streets of Queenstown with sons Senath, 8, Binath, 10, and Subath, 11, supported by Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker, Tam Schurmann and about 400 marchers calling for them to remain in New Zealand | Photo courtesy Debbie Jamieson – Stuff