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In Australia, thousands of Lankan students lose jobs, no money to fund food and lodging
Thousands of Sri Lankan students in Australia, many of them who financed themselves through casual, hourly-paid jobs, are now unemployed owing to the COVID-19 crisis and struggling to fund their food and lodging.
They were working legally—20 hours per week, earning AUD 500—to manage their daily expenses and accommodation. They were paid by the hour in hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars which have all closed down as they are non-essential services. Not only are they in dire financial straits, many have to pay for health insurance at approximately AUD 70 to 80 a month. And they also have transport costs.
There are an estimated 900 Sri Lankan undergraduate and postgraduate students in the State of New South Wales and more than 270 undergraduate and postgraduate students in Queensland. Only some are under Australian Government scholarships.
In Victoria, there are an estimated 8,000-9,000 students, 100 in South Australia and 25 in Tasmania. The numbers are approximate.
Over 65 Sri Lankans visiting their children in New South Wales and Queensland are stranded owing to the cancellation of flights. They want to return as they cannot afford to keep paying for temporary accommodation and food.
The Australian government has offered extensions for temporary visa holders on free of charge basis. The Consulate General office in Sydney and some migration experts are helping them secure this facility.
The problems are likely to worsen in coming weeks. At present, the Australian Government’s “no eviction” order is helping a sizeable number of students who are in rented accommodation and who hold proper rent or lease agreements. But there are others who may not have lodging for various reasons.
Another issue is COVID-19 infection. One Sri Lankan student has so far been found positive and is under quarantine. Sri Lanka’s mission in Melbourne is in touch with the patient.
“We have got requests for support from less than 100 students so far,” said Kapila Fonseka, Consul General of Sri Lankan in Melbourne. “However, there is a large number of community organizations and individuals who support the students on their own and we do not have figures for them.”
“The number of students who asking for our assistance is gradually increasing and we are not sure how the number will grow in the coming weeks and months, if the situation does not improve,” he pointed out. “The issue might exacerbate due to the new restrictions on temporary visa holders which includes students.”
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Sydney is also carrying out crisis management, including coordination and operation of six hotlines, said Nimal Bandara, Consul General.
It will be difficult—when the time comes—to find alternative accommodation for students due to virus fear and Government restrictions. But the number affected isn’t significant yet.
| Helping hand from Lankan community The Sri Lankan community in Australia is rallying around to help those who are helpless in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are stepping in with free cooked meals and ration packs. There are efforts to register those who need help. Databases are being built. The spouses of postgraduate students who are reading for their Masters or PhDs are able to work full-time while one studies. Most have children. But even they have run into difficulties, said Indika Sooriyaarachchi from the Kelaniya University Alumni Association Australia. “One Masters student came here with her spouse and got her mother down to support her with her child while her husband worked,” Mr Sooriyarachchi said. “They have both lost jobs and had to move out of their accommodation. The mother, the couple and child are cooped into a single-roomed lodging.” They couldn’t return while the airports were still open because the tickets cost AUD 7,500. And if her mother is not insured, any hospital treatment will result in astronomical bills. The undergraduate category is young. They rely either on parents’ funds or they meet their expenses through odd jobs. And one of their main concerns is another hefty university fee due in June. They only just finished paying in March. The universities are conducting lessons online but nobody’s getting their money’s worth. And they are in too much stress to study. There is no Government support for international students, although citizens and permanent residents have been granted benefits. Accommodation could eventually be a problem but Mr Sooriyaarachchi felt that, as the Australian Government has granted a six-month mortgage break to homeowners, tenants are entitled to request that the benefit is passed won. “The next couple of months will be really bad,” he worried.
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