Lankan maid saved from deportation
A Sri Lankan maid who last week faced deportation has received a
one-year work permit to stay in Cyprus from immigration authorities.
Priyanka Dona, who was left unemployed and homeless after a serious
workplace accident in 2010 was released from Phinikoudes police station
in Larnaca on Friday, where she spent 44 days awaiting a decision.
Dona will now spend the next year living with and employed by the
Stylianou family in Lefkara, who have supported her through the
difficult months since her accident. An elated Dona told the Cyprus Mail
yesterday: “I am so happy to be out. I could not believe it when I heard
(I could stay)”
Her close friend and new employer Chris Stylianou said: “Priyanka was
released on Friday and has been given a permit to work here for one
year. She will be staying with us and will be employed by the family.”
However, Stylianou said Dona was only nominally an employee, since
her injured leg prevented her from working.
“(On Thursday) she was given a contract, but she cannot work very
much because her leg is in plaster... It is more as a favour, because it
is the only way that we could help her to stay,” Stylianou said.
Asked about her leg, Dona said: “I want my leg to recover so I can
work properly. It is still very painful and I really don’t know when it
will be better.”
Dona’s ordeal began in January 2010 when a steam cooker in the
kitchen of former employer Chrystalla Iacovides exploded, injuring both
Dona and Iacovides.
A month after the accident, a relative of Iacovides, according to
Chris Stylianou, evicted her, leaving her unemployed, homeless and in
need of medical treatment. By September 2010, Dona’s leg had became so
swollen and painful from the accident that she required surgery at
Larnaca General Hospital.
Cyprus Mail |