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.

With Dona’s insurance lapsing prior to the accident, Iacovides’ relative reportedly paid for the €1,800 operation to place steel plates in her ankle, but has since offered little assistance.

According to Dona’s lawyer, Yiannis Erotokritou, the relative might even have sought to repatriate her to avoid Dona filing two lawsuits, against Iacovides and a cook from Kato Lefkara who was reportedly manning the steam cooker when the accident happened.

With her former employers reportedly turning their backs on Dona, the Stylianous and Lefkara community members rallied to her aid, helping with groceries and offering her a house to live.

Dona will now pack up her belongings and, in the coming days, move in with the Stylianou family. (Cyprus Mail)