Concern Grows for Sri Lankan Woman Trapped in Cook Islands for Three Years
The family of Ruchira Ranasingha, a 50-year-old woman from Sri Lanka, expressed serious concerns about her mental health as she remains stranded in the Cook Islands for over three years. Both Australia and New Zealand have denied her transit to a new home in Aotearoa, leaving her in an unprecedented state of limbo.
A Difficult Departure
Ranasingha fled Sri Lanka in hopes of finding a better life, but a brief trip to the Cook Islands, coinciding with her work visa application while on an asylum seeker “open work visa,” became a “disastrous decision.” According to reports from BBC, she has been unable to leave the Cook Islands since her arrival in November 2020.
Official Silence Amid Growing Desperation
In response to inquiries, Immigration New Zealand declined to comment on Ranasingha’s specific case, citing privacy regulations, yet acknowledged apprehensions regarding her intentions.
Repeated Visa Denials
Throughout her ordeal, both New Zealand and Australian immigration authorities have consistently rejected her applications for a transit visa. Ranasingha conveyed her deep personal wish to attend her only son’s wedding this month, expressing, “I really want to be there for his wedding.”
The Toll of Separation
Ranasingha explained to BBC that her mother is experiencing severe anxiety about her situation, requiring multiple hospital visits. She herself conveyed feelings of fear regarding her well-being, stating, “I am scared something is going to happen to me.”
A History of Hardship
According to her brother, Ranasingha left Sri Lanka in 2018, burdened with financial stress after closing her small T-shirt factory. The loss was compounded by the death of her husband, a former drug addict, about seven years ago. He recounted a conversation where his sister expressed a desperate thought: “If they are not willing to get her back home alive, they might at least repatriate her body.”
Seeking Solace
In her statements to local media, Ranasingha expressed her willingness to be detained if it meant authorities would allow her to return to Sri Lanka. She described her years without family contact as “torture.”
Despite her struggles, she highlighted the kindness of locals, mentioning that the hotel accommodating her has waived fees, and the community has provided her with food and clothing. Notably, one hotel director loaned her a sewing machine, allowing her to earn a modest income.
Government Involvement
Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has declared it is actively working to facilitate Ranasingha’s return from the Cook Islands. Officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission in Wellington and relevant New Zealand authorities are closely collaborating on this matter.
Ranasingha has attributed her plight to the agency responsible for her visa application but has not received any responses from them.
Charitable Assistance Offered
Recently, a charity based in Wellington reached out to RNZ Pacific to offer their assistance, suggesting a plan to escort Ranasingha back to her homeland.
-Sources: BBC, Cook Islands News, RNZ Pacific
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