The Student's University Has Written To The Government To Say She Shouldn't Be Deported

    Shiromini Satkunarajah, a top student at Bangor University, is set to be deported from the UK months before she finishes her studies.

    Bangor University has written to the Home Office asking it to allow a top student to complete her studies rather than deporting her to Sri Lanka three months before she is set to graduate.

    Despite having lived in the UK since she was 12 years old, Shiromini Satkunarajah, a 20-year-old student at the university, was arrested in February along with her mother, Roshani Satkunarajah, who is in her late forties, when they went to have their visas renewed. They were transferred to Yarl's Wood immigration detention centre in Bedfordshire.

    Satkunarajah, who is in her last year studying electronic engineering at the university, is on track for a first-class degree and had a goal to launch a career in electronic engineering, but this may be shattered by the Home Office's decision. Satkunarajah is also involved with student activities and is chair of the university's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers branch.

    A spokesperson for Bangor University told BuzzFeed News: "After learning about Shiromini’s situation at the end of last week, the vice-chancellor of Bangor University has written to the Home Office requesting that Shiromini Satkunarajah be allowed to remain in the UK to complete her studies."

    They added: "Our view is that it would be in the best interests of the student that she be allowed to complete her studies at Bangor University. The university has also been in touch with Shiromini to assure her that she has our support and we would very much wish to see her being able to complete her degree."

    A member of Satkunarajah's family said: "She was scared when she was in the cell for two days... She was in a separate cell to her mum."

    They added that the student wouldn't be able to cope if she was forced back to Sri Lanka: "All of her family are here in the UK, all her friends, aunties, and cousins.

    "She is really scared about going back to Sri Lanka. She reads the news (about Sri Lanka) and it makes her more scared, she thinks it's dangerous there."

    They said "She at least wants to stay for three months to finish her degree," and described Satkunarajah as "really funny, intelligent, friendly, and very popular."

    Christina Rees, the shadow Wales secretary, has written to the home secretary, Amber Rudd, urging her to reverse the decision, while NUS Wales has written requesting that she "use her discretionary power to stop this inhumane and callous deportation".

    Today I write to the Home Secretary Amber Rudd urging her to reverse the deportation of @satku_shiromini

    Helen Marchant, a student who is good friends with Satkunarajah, told BuzzFeed News: "Mini is a kind, gentle soul and an incredibly hard worker. She consistently achieves top grades; to snatch away her chances of graduating would be a tragedy."

    Marchant added: "We're doing everything we can at the students' union to help her. You can sign the petition on change.org or tweet Qatar airlines to stop them allowing her to board her flight at 9pm on Tuesday."

    Over 28,000 people have signed a petition to stop the deportation. It was set up by a family member, who wished to remain anonymous. They told BuzzFeed News: "Shiromini is overwhelmed by the support and is really happy." They said that this is a very hard time for the family: "We are all so worried."

    Ifan James, who is the Welsh Students' Union President at Bangor University, told BuzzFeed News: "This has been Shiromini’s home since 2011 and during that time ... she has contributed to her community and worked so hard on her degree. If Shiromini gets deported now, it would deprive her community, Wales, and the UK of her much-needed skills, and would deprive her of the education that she has worked so hard for."

    "She is a much-loved student here at Bangor," he said.

    In 2009, Satkunarajah's father, who was a student in the UK, died from bowel cancer. A family friend said this took a toll on the family. "Since that time her mum had health issues, especially mental health issues. At the age of 13, she had to look after her mum. She has been battling with her like for such a young age."

    BuzzFeed News has contacted the three MPs the petition is directed to: Amber Rudd, Carwyn Jones, and Robert Goodwill. None of them responded to our request to comment on Satkunarajah.

    A Home Office spokesperson said: "We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”