The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne, along with the Sri Lankan community organisations in Melbourne, is providing necessary assistance to Sri Lankans affected in Melbourne by the current situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foreign Relations Ministry said in a statement.
Home to a large number of Sri Lankans in Australia, Melbourne is one of the favourite destinations for Sri Lankans including students. There are nearly 10,000 Sri Lankan students in higher education institutes in Melbourne.
The Consulate General has introduced a 24-hour hotline and joined hands with the Sri Lankan associations, community leaders and well-wishers to assist the students and other Sri Lankans who are faced with difficulties, in Melbourne and the rest of Victoria as well as the Australian States of South Australia and Tasmania, the statement added.
Sri Lankan students who are short of income due to the closure of work places are provided with essential living assistance mainly by way of dry rations and also cooked food.
However, this assistance is unimaginable by the Consulate General alone with its limited staff, if not for the exceptional exertion of support by the community associations and the members of the community, at this hour of need.
A noteworthy instance is the close watch and assistance till recovery, by the Consulate General and the community, to the Sri Lankan student in Melbourne who contracted the COVID-19 virus.
The Consulate General has also taken action to provide updated information through its website and social media pages, as well as through community media stations, relating to issues that are faced by the students and Sri Lankans stranded in Australia.
This includes information on visa regulations, special arrangements on tenancy of accommodations as well as information on special financial assistance measures that are introduced by the Australian authorities.
The Australian Government has introduced a range of new measures and regulations and implemented them through state governments, local authorities and education institutes.