Sri Lankans in Saskatchewan seek support amid worsening economic turmoil

With Sri Lanka's parliament poised to elect a new president on Wednesday, Sri Lankan-Canadians in Saskatchewan are already rallying in support of people suffering in the country.

"It's a dire situation because of economic mismanagement. We Sri Lankans living in Saskatchewan stand in solidarity with people back home," said Dinesh Wellawa, a PhD student of veterinary microbiology at University of Saskatchewan.

There are some 200 Sri Lankan families in Saskatoon and close to 50 in Regina. Wellawa said the economic crisis in Sri Lanka has affected everyone directly or indirectly.

He visited Sri Lanka last month and said the flight, which is usually packed with tourists, had none onboard. 

"Consequently, hotels that used to be packed were at 50 per cent discount," he said.

"We had to stand in queues of at least two kilometres to get gasoline and cooking gas. Even in supermarkets, there was nothing much to grab."

The 39-year-old said the situation is now much worse. In some communities only one litre of milk is allocated per family, adversely affecting the nutritional needs of children, he said. 

Food insecurity is defined by the United Nations as the "lack [of] regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life." Severe insecurity means a person has "run out of food" and may go a day or more with nothing to eat. 

The UN said more than 60 per cent of Sri Lankans were already choosing to limit meals to stretch their food budgets. 

Food inflation in Sri Lanka hit 80 per cent in June compared to a year earlier, according to Sri Lanka's Central Bank, as food and fuel continued to be scarce. 

The World Food Programme warned some 62,000 Sri Lankans are in such a dire situation they require urgent help. 

Ushan Alahakoon, a plant breeding scientist, said "commodity prices have been skyrocketing," but that the crisis began months ago before the world paid heed.

Alahakoon was among more than 30 protestors that took to downtown Saskatoon on the crisp evening of April 3 holding placards calling to save Sri Lanka.

"Gotabaya was the name of the president and people held hashtags like GotabayaGoHome," he said.