Sri Lankans in Australia are sending groceries to desperate family members back home
Some expats are worried the country’s new president may resort to heavy-handed tactics to quell protests
Others have told the ABC they believe Ranil Wickremesinghe should be given a chance
The goods — pasta, spices, rice and cereal — are destined for his single mother in Sri Lanka, who is struggling as the country endures a crippling economic crisis.
Sharan Velauthan and his partner spent hours at the shops in Melbourne this week, filling two trolleys with essential items bound for his family back home
“It’s the most amount of groceries I have purchased in my whole life, which could be over $500 on basic essentials, for sure,” Mr Velauthan said.
He said gas and fuel shortages and frequent power cuts were making it difficult for his mother to cook simple meals and he knows it could take two or three months for his food supplies to reach her.
“Basically for me, more than money, it was making sure that my mum was OK. I didn’t even bother looking at the bill when I purchased those items.”
He said he doesn’t have faith that Sri Lanka will return to stability in the coming months, or even years.
“My first priority is looking after my mum and making sure she is OK throughout this crisis, and I will keep sending stuff back to her.”
Many acts of generosity are taking place across Australia’s Sri Lankan community.
While Mr Velauthan’s care package has yet to land with his family, the ABC has spoken to other Sri Lankans in Australia who say they successfully sent their family goods by mail, even if it took months to arrive.
Ivanka Jayasuriya flew to Sri Lanka to personally deliver goods to her family.
It was also an opportunity for her to meet with loved ones after months of separation because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“I brought back food items that are either mainly very expensive in Sri Lanka or are not available at all, because we are not getting any items imported in our country right now,” Ms Jayasuriya said.
“We’ve already pretty much run out of the food, so it is becoming a bit difficult for our families to sustain themselves.”
Products you would normally find in a grocery store — cheese, canned foods, medical supplies, multivitamins, chocolates and over-the-counter medications — were all packed in her bag for her family.
“I think it worked out really well for me and my family because I could bring back all of these items for them rather than it being stuck at customs for weeks,” she said.
Sri Lankans in Australia unsure what the future holds
Nalika Padmasena and a community of volunteers have been organising support for hospitals in Sri Lanka that have run out of crucial medication and equipment.
Ms Padmasena’s group Save A Dream has been donating items, including nitric oxide, endotracheal tubes and life-saving medicines to neo-natal wards in the country. The group is now shifting its attention to sending food supplies.
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is far reaching. The currency has collapsed by 80 per cent, meaning imports have become expensive.
That has contributed to soaring inflation that has left the country’s 22 million people unable to purchase simple goods.
How a solo protest grew to thousands in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s protests started with one man in a tent. Within months, it would grow to thousands who stormed the president’s luxury residence.
A man wearing a blue shirt and with dark hair and eyes smiles.
It also means some hospitals are without crucial medication and equipment.
Ms Padmasena initially thought her group would finish donating to Sri Lanka in September this year, when the country might resolve its economic issues.
But now she’s not so sure, after its parliament elected six-time prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President, after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned by email.
She’s worried Mr Wickremesinghe may use heavy-handed tactics through the military or anti-terrorism laws to quell ongoing protests.
“Looking at the past actions of Mr Wickremesinghe… he is basically protecting the Rajapaksa family,” she said.
It’s a sentiment echoed by many protesters, who at one point set fire to part of Mr Wickremesinghe’s personal residence and occupied his office.
A day after being sworn in, the new President cracked down on civil unrest with raids by security forces on the protest camps that ousted his predecessor.
‘We need a capable, competent captain to take the ship’
In Adelaide, Azmina Rasheed Ali, 32, said she hoped Mr Wickremesinghe would bring stability to Sri Lanka and fix the economic crisis, even though protesters say he’s not that different from his predecessor.
“He does have the experience to do the job, but I really do hope that the agendas are different to previous governments and they actually work in the interest of the public,” she said.
Ms Rasheed Ali said watching the crisis unfold from Australia over the past few months had been “depressing”, and she was concerned for her elderly parents who can’t wait in lines for fuel or food.
With a shortage of medical supplies, she was especially worried about her parents catching COVID-19.
Sam Manadeniya
Sam Manadeniya says Sri Lankans should give Ranil Wickremesinghe a chance.(Supplied: Sam Manadeniya)
Sydney-based entrepreneur Sam Manadeniya grew up in Sri Lanka and migrated when he was 18 to study in Australia and New Zealand.
The 51-year-old said Sri Lankans should give Mr Wickremesinghe a chance.
“He’s a veteran politician, he’s been the prime minister a few times and right now with that experience… we need a capable, competent captain to take the ship,” Mr Manadeniya said.
“We should be patient and we should see what he’s going to do.”
(curtsey ABC news)