Former asylum seeker who took refuge in Manchester church for two years dies
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA former asylum seeker who took refuge in a Manchester church for two years has died aged 68. The Church of the Ascension in Hulme, which offered sanctuary to Viraj Mendis when he was threatened with deportation in the 1980s, said that its former parishioner passed away 'peacefully' in a German hospital on Friday (August 16).
The Church, where Mr Mendis lived until he as forcibly removed and deported to Sri Lanka, said their former parishioner was 'radical and inspirational'.
Mr Mendis first came to Britain in 1973 to study engineering at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
During his time in Manchester, campaigned against imperialism and helped fight many anti-deportation campaigns. READ MORE: 'It's the end of an era' - Final customers bid farewell to Manchester institution dating back centuries But in 1984, Mr Mendis was issued with a deportation order himself.
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